SURKHET, May 12: A police officer on election duty has beaten up a polling officer, a temporary police personnel and a villager.
Police officer Narendra Prasad Bhatta, who was stationed at the polling station of Nepal Rastriya Aabasiye School at Dhanbot in Panchapuri Municipality-7 of Surkhet, beat up polling Officer Niraj Jha, Assistant Polling Officer Rajendra Dhamala and other villagers. Some locals, including a polling officer sustained minor injuries as a result of physical assaults.
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According to polling officer Jha, Bhatta beat up the Assistant Polling Officer, a temporary police personnel and villagers from 11 PM to 6 AM on Wednesday. "After drinking alcohol, he first went to a village near the polling station and beat up the villagers," Jha said. “He then assaulted us when we were sleeping.”
Bhatta, who had consumed alcohol, entered Dhanbot village around 11 PM on Wednesday. He broke into the house of four locals and beat them up brandishing weapons. "The villagers gathered at night and chased him away," said Jha. “He was then brought to the place where we were sleeping by a team of police and temporary police personnel.”
After reaching the location, he first attacked the Polling Officer and Assistant Polling Officer. "The police had already taken his weapon which prevented a huge accident from happening.”
Bhatta, who had come out of the house after assaulting the polling officer, also assaulted other security personnel and temporary police. "Around 6 in the morning, he was taken under control by Area Police Office and Armed Police Force," said a polling official.
Acting Chief Rajesh Nath Bastola of the Karnali Province Police Office said that action has been taken against Bhatta. "We have arrested Bhatta and brought him to Birendranagar for action," he said. "We have sent additional teams from the district to the polling station."
