The demonstration led by lawmaker Gunakhar Basyal, who was elected from constituency 2 of Parbat, was held at the District Administration Office. [break] Locals of Devisthan submitted a memo to the Chief District Officer (CDO) and the NA saying they would not allow the platoon to be stationed on the land they have been using.
Some 60 NA soldiers have been training at Bhusalchaur for the past four days. The locals, who have been against the relocation right from the beginning, were alarmed after the trainings.
Concluding that the current location of the platoon is inappropriate, NA has been pursuing a proposal to move the platoon to a 76-ropani plot at Bhusalchaur. A source said the Defense Ministry has already forwarded the proposal.
The District Security Committee had identified Bhusalchaur as an alternative location as there are houses of about 50 civilians in the area where the platoon is currently stationed. Bhusalchowr is located some four kilometers south of Kusma Bazaar.
The NA said it would not move ahead with the relocation plan without the consent of locals. “We sent the soldiers to train there as there isn´t enough space here,” said platoon commander Dhirendra Malla, adding, “We will not set up a camp there without coordinating with locals.”
Locals have surmised that the NA sent the soldiers to train at Bhusalchaur to monitor locals´ response.
Meanwhile, CDO Pitamber Ghimire said he has no information about a formal decision to relocate the camp. “The District Security Committee had recommended Bhusalchowr as a possible location for relocating the camp. But we have no information about a Cabinet decision to go ahead with the relocation,” he said.
There is a school, the Majhi Village Primary School, at Bhusalchaur. Some 300 households of Devisthan say they should be allowed to continue using the land.
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