Dozens hurt in clash over hospital construction dispute in Baitadi

By Gokarna Dayal,Baitadi, Dec. 24: A clash erupted between two groups over a dispute regarding construction of a basic hospital in Melauli, Baitadi, left scores  injured. While the two sides claimed to have 37 people injured, police said that only 22 persons were injured.

The locals of Ward No. 1 and 7 of Melauli Municipality were disputing over the construction of a 15-bed hospital in Ward No. 7 where Kesharpur Primary Health Centre is now in operation. The locals of Ward No. 7 had padlocked the Melauli Municipality Office on Tuesday demanding that the hospital should be constructed in their area.

However, Ward No. 1 locals also united and protested against the padlocking  on Thursday evening. The two groups turned violent while chanting slogans demanding hospital construction in their respective areas.

Previous municipal council meeting had decided to construct the 15-bed hospital in Ward No. 1. A detailed project report has also been prepared for the purpose.

However, locals of Ward No. 7 have demanded that the hospital should be constructed on the premises of Kesharpur Health Centre because there is enough land.  According to them, the health centre has also its own land at Biththane in Ward No. 1. 

“Despite the availability of land to build hospital in Ward No. 7, there are plans to relocate the health centre in Ward No. 1, which resulted in the clash,” said Lok Raj Bhatta, ward chairman of Ward No. 9 of Melauli Municipality.   

A recommendation was sent to the Ministry of Health and Population by previous local representatives which led to the dispute between the two wards,” said Bhatta. 

According to Baitadi District Police chief Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Prem Bahadur Shahi, a team has been deployed under a Police Inspector in the area to prevent further clashes.

“We have also asked help from the Armed Police Force. While the issue can be solved by holding talks, lack of coordination has led to violent clashes between the two sides,” said DSP Shahi.

DSP Shahi stressed that the local representatives should coordinate properly to solve the issue at the earliest.Locals of Ward No. 1 claimed that 27 of their people were injured while Ward No. 7 locals claimed there were 10 people injured from their side.