Curfew was first imposed in Toraiyapur of Durgauli VDC after clashes erupted between protesters demanding undivided Far Western and Tharuhat state on August 21. Following the clashes the District Administration Office (DAO) issued a prohibition order imposing day time curfew. However the Tharuhat protestors defied the orders and took the streets on August 24. This was the day when eight police officers including SSP Laxman Neupane and a two and half year old child were murdered by the protestors in Tikapur. Following the incident the DAO imposed a 24 hours curfew in the region.
Presently the curfew is relaxed in the area from 5 am to 2 pm every day. "We will gradually go on easing up the curfew restrictions hours over the time," informed Tikapur's Local Administration chief Suman Dhital. "But it will take some time before the restriction is completely lifted," he added.
Residents of Tikapur and surrounding VDCs have been facing hardships because of the curfew. Even in the hours when curfew is lifted, locals have been hesitant to move around. "People are not visiting the market even when the curfew has been lifted. This has greatly affected the business and trade of Tikapur area," said Ananda Hamal, Chief of Tikapur Chambers of Commerce and Industries. "We are already at a loss amounting to more than one billion from it," he added.
Hamal said that the closure of businesses has greatly affected families with lower incomes and who depend on daily stipend greatly. "Daily wage laborers are finding it harder by the day to make their ends meet."
With the Administration easing up curfew during morning hours, trade of daily commodities has improved. Also some shops selling readymade garments are also seen receiving heavy rush of customers during these hours. However, the curfew in the evening has affected hoteliers heavily as they operate during those hours. Due to such condition, hotels in the region have been mostly shut since the curfew was imposed in the area.
"We hoteliers are the ones who have been facing the worst brunt of this curfew," complained Kailali Hotel Business Association's chief Birmanjan Batala. "There are about 250 hotels in Tikapur and nearby regions. Peak hours for our business is in evening but since the curfew is clamped during the hours, we have been not able to do any business," Batala said.
Frustrated with the prolonged curfew, locals have been demanding for lifting the curfew. But the administration remains reluctant to respond to these requests citing persistence of hostile situation in the area.
Related story
Tikapur Literature Festival 2023 to commence from April 8 until...
