Lawmaker Sharma draws attention on Mechinagar clash

By Our Correspondent,Damak, Mar. 4: Nepali Congress General Secretary and member of the House of Representatives elected from Jhapa constituency-1 Bishwa Prakash Sharma has demanded a fair investigation into the clash that erupted between the Armed Police Force (APF) personnel and the locals at the Bhansa River in Mechinagar. 

In the clash, seven APF personnel and some locals were injured on Friday. Telephoning Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha and IGP Raju Aryal of the APF, lawmaker Sharma drew their attention to the incident on Sunday. 

Lawmaker Sharma has also submitted the attention paper to the local body in the presence of media and locals in Jhapa on Sunday. Injured APF personnel have complained that they were attacked by khukuris haphazardly. 

The clash ensued when the security personnel of the APF tried to prevent a local woman from bringing goods to Nepal from India by evading customs duty. Sharma demanded that all the necessary treatment arrangements be managed for all the wounded citizens who are receiving treatment in the hospital. 

Leader Sharma in the memorandum requested not to seek a solution just by covering up the incident. Sharma said that to discourage and control illegal activities in the border area, there was a need for sensible cooperation between the security agencies and the locals. 

He also drew the attention of the local administration to create an environment of understanding and cooperation in the coordination of the local government.

According to District Chief of Nepal Police Milan KC, necessary investigations have been started into the incident. The APF formed an internal investigation committee and has already started an investigation into the incident.