An Under Secretary at the Area Forest Office, Katari, has been manhandled in the presence of federal and provincial assembly lawmakers and Mayor of Katari Municipality among other people’s representatives on Saturday.

Under Secretary Narayan Shrestha has been manhandled and beaten up by a group of people in the presence of Province Assembly member Kala Ghale, federal parliament member Suresh Kumar Rai and Mayor Gyanendra Shrestha and ward chairmen.

He was manhandled after a team led by Shrestha impounded excavators and arrested dozer operators for using excavators and dozers in the Katari Municipality-1-based national forest area.

Shrestha’s team had arrested dozer operators Tulasi Budhathoki and Kashiraj Katuwa for using excavator and dozer recklessly in the national forest area on Saturday.

Claiming that they had used the excavator and dozer to dig up the road at the direction of Municipality, the group reached the forest office and thrashed Shrestha.

“A group of two dozen people including two lawmakers, municipality mayor and word chairmen thrashed me demanding release of the arrested dozer operators,” said Under Secretary Shrestha, “Ward member Kashi Raj Pokharel, Municipality Working Committee member Lila Raj Adhikari Danuwar and another person beat me inside the office.”

It has been learnt that Shrestha sustained injury in his chest.

The Area Forest Office, Katari, had already sent the arrested dozer operators to the District Forest Office for investigation. The District Forest Office has kept them in the custody for necessary investigation.

“People thrashed Shrestha as he was working against the development,” said Mayor Shrestha. “He was beaten up for creating hindrance in the development works and showing fear of staffers,” he added.

Mayor Shrestha further said that he has no knowledge about thrashing him.  

Following the incident, Under Secretary Shrestha had left for Gaighat on Saturday night feeling insecure.