Biratnagar, January 26
Three individuals injured in a clash with police in Fungling Municipality-11, Taplejung, are being airlifted to Kathmandu for further treatment.
Yam Bahadur Limbu and Sagun Lawati sustained serious injuries after being shot by the police, while Dharman Palungwa was critically injured after falling off a cliff during the clash.
According to hospital sources, Sagun Lawati sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, Yam Bahadur was shot in the thigh, and Palungwa suffered a fractured collarbone.
The injured were hurt during the clash on Saturday evening. They were initially taken to Taplejung District Hospital but were referred to Nobel Medical College in Biratnagar later that night as their condition could not be managed locally. Following further referral, preparations are underway to transport them to Kathmandu, informed Morang Chief District Officer Indra Dev Yadav.
“An Army helicopter is on its way to airlift them,” Yadav said, adding that necessary arrangements had been made to transfer them.
The clash erupted amid protests against the construction of a cable car at Pathibhara, which began on Tuesday. The “No Cable Car Group,” opposing the project over concerns it would erase the area’s cultural identity, had planned to intensify their protests from Sunday.
To disperse the protesters, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel were deployed on Saturday evening. Around 6 p.m., tensions escalated in the Baludada area near Pathibhara when protesters hurled stones at the police, prompting the latter to open fire. Over 25 protesters were injured in the confrontation.
District Police Office Taplejung DSP Ravi Rawal confirmed that some police personnel were also injured in the clash.
