Rukum, February 2

Four persons, including Nepali Congress leader and former state minister Kesharman Roka, were physically assaulted in Rukumjot of Rukum east.

The ex-minister, NC leader Dhruba Pun, Nepal Communist Party (NCP)’s Satman Pun and Puniraj Gharti Magar were beaten up in course of the bandh.

Chief District Officer Mitralal Sharma confirmed the incident in which the former minister suffered a minor injury to his neck. Roka said he had been in the district headquarters for talks with protesters. Currently, the situation in Rukumkot is tense over the issue of fixing the district headquarters.

Though the dispute over the headquarters of Rukum (east) is under consideration at the Supreme Court, protests have taken a violent turn in the district. A group of people, who are demanding that Rukumkot be made the district headquarters, have intensified the protest in the district.

Transport services and market remained closed since Friday over the same issue. It may be noted that the Nepali Congress-

led government on January 25 last year

had decided to shift the district headquarters to Golkhada of Putha Utterganga Rural

Municipality.

Rukumkot folks have been irked by the decision. A writ petition was filed at the Supreme Court on January 31 in the same year against the decision of the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government.

Responding to the petition, the SC issued an interim order not to implement the decision to shift the headquarters.