The driver of the excavator that was used on commoners in Gwalle of Dasharathchand municipality 1 in Baitadi has been arrested.
One woman Gauri Joshi was injured when the bucket of excavator hit her and threw her down a cliff as the excavator starts to dig soil when the locals are still protesting. The video of the incident broadcast by Avenues Television has gone viral on the social media.
The local administration has arrested driver Kishore Bohara from Dehimandu of Dasharathchand municipality 2. "We have yet to receive complaint from the victims but have already arrested the driver," DSP with Baitadi Police Dilli Narayan Pandey told Setopati. "The injured persons have apparently gone to Kohalpur for treatment. They may lodge complaint once they return and then we will start additional action."
The arrested driver has claimed that he was pelted stones which can be seen in the video. "They suddenly started pelting stones. I was also hit with one. I didn't know what happened after that," DSP Pandey quoted Bohara as saying to the police.
There was dispute among the locals about whether to dig the road or not. A meeting was held on Saturday in presence of police.
Chief District Officer (CDO) of Baitadi Ananda Paudel said the clash occurred as the agreement on Saturday to dig the road was broken on Monday. "Agreement was reached to dig the road. There was a clash after the dispute escalated. Police have already been sent to the place," Paudel said.
The disputed road will connect Sundnakhan with Paarsa. Locals from both the sides were injured as stones were pelted during the clash. Gauri Joshi and Surendra Joshi, who were against the road, are being treated in Dhangadi.
Similarly, Santosh Joshi, Pushkar Joshi, Dinesh Joshi, Bhoj Raj Joshi, Naraan Joshi and Dharmananda Joshi, who were for digging the road, also sustained minor injuries, and have already returned home, according to the police.
The road passes through the land owned by a local guthi (religious trust) and the locals were divided about whether to dig the road through the land or not.
