Martadi Market and Karnali Corridor Blocked Following Violent Clashes in Bajura

May 10, Bajura — The Ranisain Struggle Committee has declared a shutdown of the Martadi district headquarters market as well as various local markets and the Karnali Corridor road in Bajura district. According to the committee, this action was taken to demand the arrest and legal action against those responsible for the violent events that occurred on May 18 in Ranisain, Himali Rural Municipality-3.

On May 18, in Lampata, Ranisain, local residents from Humla allegedly attacked several individuals, resulting in injuries to Chief Administrative Officer Kul Bahadur Thapa of Himali Rural Municipality; Ward Member Pemagara Gurung, 34, his wife Laxmi Gurung, 33; local resident Minu Kunwar, 24; and Police Assistant Havaldar Mahesh Dhami, who was on duty at the local police outpost.

Furthermore, on May 6, a group of over 100 individuals from Kharpunath Rural Municipality, Humla, reportedly set fire to cattle sheds, destroyed houses, and displaced 35 families in Lampata, Ranisain, as confirmed by Himali Rural Municipality spokesperson Bhimananda Pandey. The shutdown of the markets and the Karnali Corridor road has been carried out in protest of these events. The struggle committee has demanded the arrest of 23 individuals allegedly involved in the Ranisain incident.

Authorities have registered a complaint with the Bajura District Police Office against 23 suspects, including local Devaraj Rawal from Thali, Kharpunath Rural Municipality-2, due to their involvement in the recent events. However, since no arrest warrants have been issued yet, the committee has intensified pressure on the District Administration Office of Bajura by enforcing the market closure.

On May 5, after the commencement of the construction of a temporary police outpost in Lampata, residents from Humla protested, citing a border dispute. Vice Chairperson Rajkala Sarki of Himali Rural Municipality claimed that illegal activities, including poaching of valuable medicinal herbs and protected wildlife such as goral, deer, and bears, are being transported to Hilsa in China through the Ranisain area. She further alleged that the indigenous communities living in Lampata were subjected to brutal assaults.

The struggle committee submitted a memorandum to Chief District Officer Dorendra Niraula on Wednesday. The memorandum highlights the need for treatment of five injured persons from the May 3 and 5 incidents and demands that surveying maps for the Lampata area be publicly released by the Land Revenue and Survey Office. Chief District Officer Dorendra Niraula stated that, following a decision at the secretary level about a week ago, a Border Security Post (BSP) of the Armed Police Force and a temporary police outpost have been established in Lampata to reinforce security.