Biratnagar, January 29
The Koshi Province government has called on protestors to engage in dialogue following recent clashes in Taplejung. A meeting of the government’s negotiation team on Tuesday urged the protesting groups to come to the discussion table.
The call for talks comes after a violent confrontation on Saturday in the Pathibhara area of Taplejung between identity activists and police over opposition to the construction of a cable car. The clash resulted in police gunfire, leaving three people, including two with critical injuries, who are currently receiving treatment at Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu. Additionally, 21 police officers were injured in the incident.
Following the clashes, lawmakers in the Provincial Assembly called for a resolution to the Taplejung dispute through negotiations.
With the cable car project in Pathibhara moving forward, the provincial government remains committed to resolving the concerns of the opposing groups through dialogue, said Internal Affairs and Law Minister Rebati Raman Bhandari.
The provincial government had previously formed a negotiation team on December 9 under the coordination of Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Ram Bahadur Rana. The team includes Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Health Bhupendra Rai, Internal Affairs and Law Minister Rebati Raman Bhandari, and Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law Kamal Thapa.
