The protesting locals of Kanda VDC in Bajhang district have prevented police reinforcement from entering the village. 

The District Police Office (DPO) had dispatched an additional security team after protesters attempted to torch the Dhuli-based Border Police Post in the village. 

Demanding separate village council status in for Kanda, the locals have been picketing the police post for the past few days. Two security personnel were and a villager was injured in a clash between protesters and police on Wednesday. The locals also vandalised a solar panel installed at the police post. 

“The villagers did not picket the police post on Friday and Saturday. But they did not let the additional security team from entering Kanda VDC,” said DSP Narendra Chand. “Security personnel could not reach the village as the villagers continued attacking them by throwing stones from higher places. They have also blocked the entry point to the village,” he added. 

According to DSP Chand, the police team has been staying at Jailek between Kanda and Melbisauna for the past three days. 

The DPO had sent a 21-member security team to Kanda under the command of Inspector Ram Bahadur Chand. 

In a bid to exert pressure on the government, the villagers had also asked government officials to leave the VDC immediately. The villagers, who have been protesting under the banner of Kanda Village Council Struggle Committee, have also directed local shopkeepers not to sell food and other essentials to government employees and security personnel.

The local administration is considering shifting the police post from the village after the reinforcement was prevented from entering the village. 

“We might have to shift the police post to another location if locals of Kanda don’t need security. It seems relocating the police post will be a better option than using force,” said Chief District Officer Sunil Khanal. Kanda locals, however, have said their protests would continue irrespective of the decision taken by the local administration regarding relocating the police post. The protests won’t be withdrawn until Kanda is given the village council status.