BHAKTAPUR, April 11: As many as eleven persons including four policemen on duty were injured after clashes flared up during the ritual of pulling Hindu God Bhairav's chariot on the first day of the renowned Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur.
The devotees who were pulling the chariot clashed and pelted stones at each other until midnight. The injured police personnel include sub inspector of police, Saroj Khatri, assistant sub inspector, Ambika Lama, head constable, Rajan Kumar Khatri, and constable, Laxmi Malla. The injured locals have been identified as Saroj Shilpakar, Sanjeev Madhikarmi, Suraj Thakuri, Suresh Jatuju, Chitij Dhukuwa, Manohar Chauthi and Gokul Suwal.
Sub Inspector Khatri has been referred to the police hospital after he could not be treated at the Bhaktapur hospital. The others are being treated at the Bhaktapur hospital, Metropolitan Police Range Office Bhaktapur's Spokesperson and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Krishna Prasai shared.
The Jatra commenced at 5 pm on Monday at Taudami after devotees from upper and lower quarters of the city started pulling the Bhairav's chariot. The clash ensued at 9 pm after the residents of the lower part were successful in pulling back the chariot to Taumadi after it had been pulled to Golmadi quarter in the upper part of the city.
The clash continued till 12:30 am after which the police intervened and dispersed the crowd. The police pulled the chariot and gave it rest at Gaha Hiti area. The Bisket Jatra runs for eight nights and nine days. RSS
Pole erecting ceremony of Bisket Jatra
