Shishir GC and Rabin Sharma, both of whom are studying mechanical engineering at RR Institute of Technology, Bangalore, said they even received threats of physical assaults from the cadres of different political parties when they were on their way to distribute the relief on Tuesday. To save themselves from the assault, the duo were forced to take shelter at the nearest army camps.

“It is shocking that we were forced to take help of the army while trying to provide aid to the affected people, just because of the vested interest of the cadres of different political parties,” said GC, a third-year student atRR Institute.

According to him, Help Nepal had collected 252 units of tarpaulins along with other essentials for 200 families in Bangalore. They had even received permission of the District Administration Office, Dolakha, and the Nepal Army to distribute the relief in Malu village.

“We were supposed to provide the materials to the needy people of ward number 1,2 and 3 of Malu VDC in the beginning. However, a number of cadres affiliated to various political parties stopped us from delivering them, demanding that they should lead the distribution process,” said GC. He also added that the cadres starting fighting among themselves after that, since they couldn’t agree on who will take the lead, following which they warned the students that they might have to face physical assaults. Further, the cadres also refused to allow the army to coordinate the relief distribution.

The students said that following the scuffle, when the situation took a turn for the worse, they were forced to take shelter in the army camp near the Khimti Hydropower Plant in Kirnebesi. “We fled from the camp the next morningfollowing the advice of Gangadhar KC, captain of the Nepal Army, leaving behind the goods,” said the students.