PARBAT, Feb 13 : Police have arrested two individuals for allegedly setting fire to a community forest in Parbat district during the dry season.
According to the Parbat District Police Office, the suspects Subas Paudel, 26, and Ramesh Paudel, 31, both residents of Kushma Municipality-14, Bagal Thok were apprehended for igniting a fire in the Thuladhunga Community Forest in Arthur Dandakhark on January 12.
70 community and national forests affected by fire in Parbat ti...
Inspector Nir Bahadur Baniya stated that the duo was arrested from their homes following complaints from locals, who reported that the fire had not only destroyed forest resources and wildlife habitats but also posed a threat to nearby settlements.
The suspects have been handed over to the Division Forest Office, Parbat, for further legal actions. The district court has extended their remand by five days as the investigation continues.
Last year, 70 community forests in Parbat were affected by wildfires. The Division Forest Office reported a rise in fire incidents since mid-January this year, attributing most cases to human negligence. In response, authorities have intensified efforts to identify and take action against those responsible, said Division Forest Office Chief Jhyamanarayan Sapkota.
