Kathmandu, February 2:

Nepal Foresters’ Association today demanded action against a security officer in Kanchanpur for disrupting their activities and humiliating the Darchula District Forest Officer on January 22.

Kanchanpur SP Madhav Nepal had for no apparent reason arrested Ramesh Bahadur Chand, Darchula DFO, while the latter was returning to Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve after handing over two suspects for rhino horn smuggling.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the NFA, Chand said, “Though I revealed my identity and my purpose to the security officer, he did not listen.” Chand was released after four hours in police custody. He said five other people along with him were on a mission to raid seven different areas in Kanchanpur and Kailali districts to arrest smugglers.

He said, “I am disappointed that one government official misbehaved with another government official.”

Journalist Shyam Bhatta said that Maoist cadres Man Bahadur Kunwar and Rabindra Aire were those arrested by the team. According to Bhatta, Maoists had already taken action against Kunwar. He said the SP was out of contact at the moment.

Dabeshmani Tripathi, president of NFA, said the government was looking into the matter. He, however, said they would protest if the government failed to take action against the people involved in humiliating the DFO. “We will also not hesitate to resign en mass if need be,” he added.