KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 23
Taplejung district in eastern Nepal has been deeply disturbed over the last few days. Numerous video snippets are attracting the attention of many people and netizens due to their widespread sharing and resharing.
Videos and posts have been flooded with hashtags like #nocablecar and #savemukkumlung.
According to locals, there is extreme terror this Saturday night as a result of the government's violence against the people.
"The mayor of Phungling, alongside the district administration office, is currently mobilising the state police force and local vigilante groups, demolishing private houses, violently taking people out and physically attacking, using excessive force, critically injuring many, many are lying around waiting for treatment, and many are jailed," wrote Sabin Ninglekhu on Facebook.
"Little kids have been yanked from their bedrooms and beaten with batons, pushing and shoving them out of their homes. All in one night, in a matter of a few hours."
In another post, he wrote that the Nepal government has gone rogue!
"After chopping down thousands of trees on a mountain last year, people have been hacked by machete, fired bullets at, critically injuring three in January, and in a latest episode, last night, dragged out of homes in the middle of the night, including little kids, beaten till their last breath, maimed and jailed. From last night, we do not know how many have been jailed, how many are in the hospital, and how many have 'disappeared'.
The majority of the videos depict atrocities committed by authorities in response to agitation sparked by the construction of a cable car in the Mukkumlung region, which is considered sacred by Nepal's indigenous population, including Limbu, Rai, Tamang, Sherpa, and Magar.
A video shared by numerous netizens shows Ram Kumar Rai, an Ilam resident, with his left hand and leg broken as a result of the police baton charge. Last Thursday, more than 12 people were injured, and the number continues to rise. Despite several damages and acts of vandalism, no police data has been released thus far.
Pramod Raj Sedhai took to 'X' and wrote, "Fresh clashes between the 'No Cable Car' protesters & police in Phungling, Taplejung, this evening highlight deep security challenges. If not resolved through negotiations swiftly and instead driven by corporate interests, tensions could spread beyond eastern Nepal."
Meanwhile, a prohibitory order has been enforced in Phungling Bazaar and the Pathibhara area of Taplejung district.
Meanwhile, the Taplejung District Administration Office has issued a prohibitory order, which will take effect this morning, in response to the controversy surrounding the construction of a cable car in Pathibhara.
On Saturday night, Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma issued a notification that prohibitory orders had been issued in the district headquarters of Phungling Bazar and Pathibhara areas.
According to the information, the prohibitory order was issued because the situation had deteriorated following Saturday evening's clash between the No-Cable-Car side and the police at the Phungling market.
