Police in Malakheti-2 said they were searching for Hari Bhatta, who allegedly attacked Nanda Devi Kunwar with a sickle on Saturday to prevent her from putting up fence around a community forest in their village. [break]Kunwar and dozens of villagers were near the forest when the incident happened.
The local people have accused the police of trying to dump the case saying no serious attempts had been made to find the accused.
Last week, Bhatt was in police custody for forest encroachment but was later released after signing a written statement promising not to encroach the forest.
"He again committed the crime and is absconding. This time we have deployed plain clothes police to find him," said inspector Krishna Nanda Bhatta. He however said Bhatta might have sneaked into India.
Kunwar said Bhatt attempted to kill her and had aimed for her throat. As she tried to defend herself, the sickle hit her hands and was serious injured.
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