Siraha, July 11

An unidentified group set fire to the office of Karjanha Municipality in Siraha last night. Doors, carpet and a cupboard were burnt in the blaze.

According to Mayor Ganga Paswan, it appeared that some kind of inflammable substance was used to set the office on fire. “Even though we didn’t have to bear huge loss, this shameful act must be condemned. A group of people from the so-called upper caste community might have set the office on fire as they want me to fail. The group doesn’t entertain me as a mayor since I belong to the lower caste,” argued Paswan.

However, he said he would find out who was behind the incident. “We will launch investigation on our own while security personnel also will conduct investigation separately,” he added.

However, the locals argued that the mayor might have torched the office to shift it to another place. Following the incident, they have also held a demonstration and burnt tyres at Bagaha of the municipality along the East-West Highway.

The temporary office of the municipality is located at Bagaha. There was discussion on shifting the municipality office to another place and the names of three places were picked on Monday. The officials had a hot argument regarding the new place for setting up the office, according to Binde Mahato, a local.

Security personnel involved in the investigation said that the incident was suspicious. “The truth may come out only after extensive discussion among municipal officials. Investigation into the incident is under way,” said police.