Secy interview sparks tense: one dies, dozens injured

Beldangi, May 27: At least one died and some dozens sustained injuries at police firing in Beldangi camp on Sunday. The dead has been identified as Narapati Dhunel, 14, of Beldangi-II camp, Sector G/3-38.  

The situation became tensed after an unidentified group physically attacked Hari Adhikari Bangale, camp secretary of the same camp accusing him of speaking against the sentiments of youths in camps from Pathivara FM on Saturday. The group also assulted another Hari Adhikari of Beldangi-II extension.

Bangale is reported to have sustained injuries in head and ears.

Those who sustained serious injuries from the firing include Gyan Kumar Rai, 36, of Beldangi-II extension, Toya Nath Khatiwada of Beldangi-II, D/4-85, Dhan Bahadur Rai and Lok Nath Adhikari of Beldangi-I, D/2-118.

Some 24 including four security personnel have also sustained injuries. The condition of those injured is not yet known since ambulance hasn’t reached the site.  

Eyewitnesses have claimed that Bangale physically assaulted Bishnu Maya Karki of Beldangi-II, D/3-24 when she inquired him about the contents of his interview with Pathivara FM. The source further quoted Bangale as having said that every youth in camps posses a weapon.

It is learnt that Karki hasn’t yet recovered her consciousness.

Meanwhile, the aggressive mass chanting slogans against Bangale’s interview, later set fire at the Camp Management Committee (CMC) office. The fire has completely destroyed the CMC office since agitators blocked fire brigade from reaching the site.

Some thousands of agitators marching towards security base camp, situated near the camp, along with the dead body burnt effigy of Bangale.

Bangale, also the Executive Director of Bhutanese Durable Solution Coordinating Committee (BRDSCC), is well known as one of the active advocators of the US offer of third country resettlement.

Meanwhile, Setu Nepal, the Director of Kathmandu-based sub-committee of the BRDSCC termed the incident as being ‘pre-planned’. “The remote of this incident is in Kathmandu”, Nepal claimed.

Source from Damak police station informed the BNS over telephone that there are possibilities to clamp curfew if the tensed situation continues. Bhutan News Service/Jeetan Subba and Puspa Adhikari