TAPLEJUNG, Feb 28: Taplejung Police have taken 18 people from the 'No Cable Car' group into custody on charges of 'rioting and criminal disturbance' following an incident at Birendra Chowk in Phungling on the evening of February 22.
Among the 18 people in custody, 4 have previously been convicted of various offenses, according to Bibek Basnet, Information Officer and Police Inspector at the Taplejung District Police Office. Basnet stated that the four individuals involved in the incident face charges related to public offenses, indecent behavior, and drug-related offenses.
The police initially took 15 people into custody and later detained three more, bringing the total number to 18. Recently, they detained 43-year-old Indira Sharma Dhourali from Yangwark Rural Municipality Ward No 2 in Panchthar, 37-year-old Subash Tumbahamphe from Phaktanglung Rural Municipality Ward No 5 in Taplejung, and 29-year-old Sandip Limbu from Ward No 6 of the same rural municipality.
The police reported holding a total of 18 people in custody, including three from Taplejung, along with individuals from Panchthar, Sunsari, Jhapa, Morang, and Tehrathum. After completing the Munkumulung (Pathibhara) pilgrimage, the 'No Cable Car' group staged a protest in Phungling. The clash between the police and protesters occurred as the police attempted to control the rally.
At least 24 people from both sides sustained injuries in the clash. The protesting group claimed that the police had arrested more than 30 of their activists.