BIRGUNJ, SEPTEMBER 13

As many as 12 persons three police personnel and nine children during a confrontation among the children being held in the Birgunj-based Bal Sudhar (Juvenile Correction Center) on Tuesday night. Police officers were injured by the stones pelted at them by the children during the clash.

The altercation occurred between children already residing at the center and those recently transferred from a correctional center in Bhaktapur. Authorities had transferred 18 children from the Bhaktapur correctional center three weeks ago, following an incident on August 21 when 220 children had escaped from the Santothimi-based Bal Sudhar Griha (Child Welfare Home) and clashed with the police.

Among the injured, eight are children who were transferred from Bhaktapur, as confirmed by Superintendent of Police Komal Shah of Parsa. The nine children injured in the correctional center were treated at Narayani Hospital on Tuesday night and were subsequently brought to the District Police Office.

The tension persisted throughout the night at the Birgunj correctional center due to the clash.

Prior to the arrival of the children from Bhaktapur, there were already 131 children residing at the Birgunj center, according to Tika Kafle, the chief of the center. The dispute between the children from Bhaktapur and those already at the center escalated on Tuesday evening, resulting in a clash. During the incident, the children caused damage inside the center, prompting a large contingent of personnel from the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force to arrive at the center to restore order. However, they were not allowed to enter the center by the children and were pelted with stones till late night. After three of the police personnel were injured in the clash, police fired few rounds of tear gas to control, SP Shah added.

Security personnel struggled to gain control of the situation until Wednesday morning and were prevented from entering the center. Deputy Superintendent of Police Kumar Vikram Thapa, who was deployed at the scene, remarked, 'The situation inside is comparatively normal compared to Tuesday night, but they are still causing disturbances.'

Chief Tika Kafle of the Children's Rehabilitation Center revealed that the children transferred from Bhaktapur a month ago had been protesting against staying in Birgunj, leading to the clash. The children demonstrating at the Children's Rehabilitation Center since Tuesday night also alleged inadequate food provision, a fee of 100 rupees for making phone calls, overcrowding in a single room, poor toilet conditions, and mistreatment by the head of the rehabilitation center.

DSP Shah stated that authorities are working to regain control of the situation and will engage in discussions with the protesting children.