JHAPA, JULY 31

Irregularities have been reported during the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 for people above 55 years of age at different places in Jhapa.

Massive irregularities have been reported from Jhapa district headquarters Bhadrapur, where people even beyond the target group are said to be receiving the vaccine using their political and other influences. Locals have accused elected representatives of obliging their relatives and supporters of all age groups with the vaccine by misusing their power.

In Birtamode too, irregularities have been reported during the vaccination. Over the same allegation, students padlocked the municipal office this morning.

Police here, last evening, had detained the municipality's COVID focal person Om Bahadur Khadka for hiding vaccines in a hotel, but he was later released at night.

In the wake of the secret release of the COVID focal person detained for hiding vaccines, members of Nepal Student Union, Jhapa, and All Nepal National Independent Students' Union-Revolutionary, along with local stakeholders, jointly padlocked the municipality office taking exception to the release.

Five local political parties of the district have sought Khadka's suspension and an investigation into his questionable act.

By issuing a joint press statement, Nepali Congress district Chairperson Uddhav Thapa, CPN-MC district Secretary Mani Kumar Rai, Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal district Chairperson Dipenwala Rai, Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal Chairperson Keshav Ojha, Rastriya Janamorcha Party Chairperson Santosh Kumar Rai condemned the act of hiding vaccines in a hotel by depriving the common people of the lifesaving vaccines.

Human Rights Network, Jhapa, has also put out a press statement and condemned the vaccine-related mischief.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 1 2021, of The Himalayan Times.