Five policemen and a dozen Aarughat locals were injured in a clash between enraged workers and entrepreneurs of the Gorkha Transportation Entrepreneurs Association and Aarughat Yatayat Pvt Ltd at Tandrang-2 in Gorkha district on Tuesday.

Vehicular movement on the Aarughat-Gorkha Bazaar road has been halted for the past 13 days due to a dispute between the two groups.

The dispute ensued after the syndicate barred Aarughat Yatayat from operating their buses on the route. Since Monday, workers and entrepreneurs of the Gorkha Transportation Entrepr-eneurs Association have set up camps along the road to stop the Aarughat Yatayat vehicles. The Aarughat Yatayat has been trying to operate buses on the route for the last six months.

Aarughat Area Police Office arrested 23 persons, including Vice-chairman of Gorkha Transportation Entrepreneurs Association Kalu Gurung, who were involved in the clash. Police Inspector Rabiraj Thapaliya said they had lobbed seven teargas canisters and resorted to a baton charge to take situation under control. “Some of the agitated locals have vandalised police office,” he said.

Local Lal Bahadur Khadka complained about police brutally against local people. “Police personnel are hand in glove with workers and entrepreneurs of Gorkha Transportation Entrepr-eneurs Association,” accused Khadka. After the clash, locals have announced an indefinite banda in Aarughat bazaar. Locals have complained about growing hooliganism and brawls due to the syndicate disputes.