Phungling (Taplejung), February 23: The District Administration Office, Taplejung, has imposed a prohibitory order in Phungling Bazaar and the Pathibhara area, starting this morning due to escalating disputes over the construction of a cable car in Pathibhara.
Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma issued the order on Saturday night, imposing restrictions in these areas to prevent further unrest. Authorities enforced the order after a clash between the "No Cable Car" group and the police in Phungling Bazaar on Saturday evening created an unfavorable law and order situation. Restricted areas span Phungling Bazaar east to Dokhu Salleri, west to Ghochaun/Thalangdhar, north to Ukali Pani, and south to Sherpa Tole, Veterinary, and Kanchenjunga Tol.
Officials invoked Section 6(3) (a) of the Local Administration Act, 2028 (1971) to justify the restrictions. The prohibitory order took effect at 5 AM today and will remain in place until further notice.
The restricted areas include Phungling Bazaar and its surroundings, extending east to Dokhu Salleri, west to Ghochaun and Thalangdhar, north to Ukali Pani, and south to Sherpa Tole, Veterinary, and Kanchenjunga Tole. In the Pathibhara Kaflepati area, restrictions extend east to the Tourist Police Building, west to Balu Danda, north to the cable car base station, and south within a 100-meter radius of the under-construction new bus park.
The order prohibits gatherings of more than five people, rallies, protests, and demonstrations within these zones. The authorities imposed the prohibitory order after clashes between the police and the "No Cable Car" group in Phungling on Saturday evening resulted in injuries on both sides. A similar confrontation on Thursday at the Pathibhara cable car construction site injured 13 individuals, including police officers, protesters, and bystanders.