Bajura-Humla border study team holds consultations

By Rajan Rawat, Humla, June 2:  A government investigation team formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to examine the violent clashes that erupted over the border dispute at Lampata along the Humla-Bajura boundary is currently in Humla, holding discussions with concerned stakeholders.

On Sunday, the four-member team led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bimal Raj Kandel met with various individuals in Simkot, district headquarters of Humla, to gather information about the incident.

SSP Kandel said the team would prepare a report based on its findings and submit it to the ministry. He said the team was consulting locals from the border area, individuals involved in the incident, elected representatives from the affected local levels, political leaders and civil society representatives to understand the facts surrounding the dispute.

According to him, discussions have already been held with Namkha Rural Municipality Deputy Chairperson Takdir Lama, Kharpunath Rural Municipality Chairperson Karna Bahadur Rawal, Ward Chairperson of Kharpunath-2 Chandra Rawal, Chief District Officer Tek Kumar Regmi, political party leaders and local civic leaders.

After completing consultations in Humla, the team is scheduled to travel to Martadi in Bajura. Earlier, it visited Lampata and Chyachaur, the areas where the clashes took place. The team comprises SSP Kandel, Sub-Inspector Sugandha Shrestha, and Inspectors Anoj BK and Madhav BK.

The Ministry of Home Affairs formed the investigation team after clashes between residents of Humla and Bajura over the boundary issue escalated between May 16 and 18.

The dispute intensified after the Sudurpashchim Provincial Government allocated Rs. 4 million in the current fiscal year for the construction of a police post in the disputed area. The resulting confrontation in Lampata left four people from Bajura injured.

To resolve the dispute, the government on May 25 formed two separate committees: a border study team led by Survey Department Deputy Director General Susheel Dangol and an investigation committee headed by SSP Kandel to examine the incident.