RNA men mistreat Chhath revellers

Jaleshwor bazaar, the district headquarters of Mahottari remained closed on Tuesday in protest of the misbehavior of the Royal Nepalese Army personnel against the locals who were celebrating the Chhath festival.

Over 10 people were injured, one seriously, when inebriated Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) personnel beat up Chhath puja revellers, reports said.

According to the victims, the drunken RNA personnel of the Gorakhbox battalion, Parikauli, beat up the devotees without any reason.

The injured included Birendra Mandal, Shyam Choudhary, Parameshwor Choudhary, Bijaya Mandal, Shovit Mandal, Shankar Shah, Raja Choudhary, Bijaya Mahato, Santosh Singh and Shyam Shah, among others.

“Four plainclothes RNA men, who were drunk, beat us up mercilessly,” reports quoted the victims as saying. Birendra Mandal, who was seriously injured, has been referred to the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Dharan, from the district hospital in Jaleshwor.

The victims met Chief District Officer Jaya Mukunda Khanal, battalion chief Nirmal Thapa, SP Ramesh Phuyal Tuesday morning and informed them of the incident. Battalion chief, Thapa assured them to take departmental action against guilty personnel.

However, Chhath puja celebrations continued after Thapa assured treatment for the injured.

Leaders of the seven agitating political parties condemned the incident and demanded action against guilty army men and compensation to the victims. nepalnews.com pb Nov 09 05