Four Arrested in Dolpa for Illegal Collection of High-Volume Herbs

Dolpa. Four individuals have been arrested in Tripurasundari Municipality for illegally collecting a large quantity of medicinal herbs. They have reportedly been handed over to the Shey Phoksundo National Park administration.

A joint patrol team of the Nepali Army seized approximately 35 quintals of Padamchal herb and two tractors during a raid in the Tripurakot area of Tripurasundari Municipality-1 early this morning at 3:30 AM.

The operation was carried out by a joint team comprising the Nepali Army under the command of Sub-Lieutenant Sushil Dahal of the Shree Sangram Sardul Battalion, and a Senior Game Scout from the National Park Administration Office.

Those arrested include 36-year-old Naresh Budha from Tripurasundari-5, 25-year-old Elish Budha (driver) from Salyan Kumakh Rural Municipality-4, 48-year-old Krishna BK (driver) from Rukum West Athbisk Municipality-7, and 33-year-old Bikash Rokaya from Tripurasundari-5.

They have been handed over to the National Park Administration Office with dual assurance for necessary investigation and action, stated Army Captain Harish Shahi of the Shree Sangram Sardul Battalion. According to Assistant Conservation Officer Bigyan Sen of the Shey Phoksundo National Park Office, the herbs were collected without permission from the park area and were seized while being transported out of the district.

He informed that recently, the collection of Jatamansi (Bhulte) has been banned in Dolpa, and for Padamchal, permission will only be granted after identifying suitable areas following a study of the action plan.