Dhangadi, August 29

Kailali District Administration Office (DAO) has decided to take action against people who spread rumours on social networking sites including Twitter and Facebook about the brutal Tikapur incident in which eight police personnel, including SSP Laxman Neupane and a minor boy were killed last Monday.

Saying that false information on the social sites could spoil communal peace and harmony, DAO has urged all and sundry not to post untrue news and information pertaining to the incident. Kailali CDO Mohan Chapagain said that if anyone was found to be posting about the incident, he/she would be punished.

“DAO will take an action under cyber crime law,” CDO Chapagain warned.

Following the incident, comments on Facebook and Twitter about the incident have been frequent. “DAO has concluded that such comments will destroy communal harmony and goodwill,” the CDO added.

Chapagain said that the presence of all the CA members elected from Kailali was necessary to keep goodwill and harmony in the district. Far-west regional administrator Sharad Raj Bista said that efforts were under way to ease the tension caused by Tikapur killing. “Attempts are on to hold interaction between the Tharus and hilly people,” Bista added.

Meanwhile, the curfew imposed in Tikapur since last Monday was eased to some extent today. CDO Chapagain said that the DAO had eased the curfew to allow people to procure daily essentials till 11:00am.

A large number of security personnel of NA, APF and Nepal Police have been deployed at 10 VDCs and Tikapur Municipality after they were declared riot-hit areas. Thirtha Bam, a local from Tikapur said that people were even scared of talking loudly inside their houses. “We are waiting for the situation to become normal,”, Bam added.

Similarly, a curfew was imposed in Dhangadi from 11:00am to 6:00pm today. DAO said it had clamped the curfew in Dhangadi and adjoining areas including Urma VDC to the east, Mohana River to the south and Attariya Municipality to the west.