Central Joint Security Base to be Established in Bajura-Humla Border Dispute Area

Kathmandu. A decision has been made to establish a central joint security base in the area where the border dispute between Bajura and Humla has not been resolved. A meeting of the Central Security Committee held at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday decided to establish a 'Central Joint Security Base' of Nepal Police and Armed Police in Lampata, Ward No.-3 of Himāli Rural Municipality, Bajura, located at the border of the two districts. The meeting, chaired by Home Minister Sudhan Gurung, was attended by the chiefs of the three security bodies and a representative from the army.

According to an official from the Ministry of Home Affairs who participated in the meeting, a team of police and armed police from Sudurpaschim Province has been sent to the area to establish the security base. The official said, 'A decision has been made to send necessary logistical supplies to the security personnel by helicopter.'

A clash occurred between locals of Humla and Bajura on Baishakh 3 regarding the border dispute. Earlier, 16 security personnel under the command of Inspector Laxmi Raj Joshi, working at the District Police Office Bajura, were sent to the disputed area for long-route patrol.

That team is currently stationed at a place called Gumba near Lampata. A base will be established in Lampata once additional forces arrive, DIG Om Rana of Sudurpaschim told Ratopati. There was a dispute between the locals of the two districts regarding the construction of a temporary police post on the border.

Locals had blocked the road at Dhulachaur on the Karnali Corridor to connect Bajura and Humla. An agreement has been reached to open the road from Saturday after negotiations between the two parties.

During the clash on Baishakh 3, locals from Thali, Kharpunath Rural Municipality-2, Humla, beat up Ward Member Pema Gara Gurung of Himāli-3 and 4 other people. A case has been registered at the District Police Office Bajura against 23 people on charges of involvement in the beating.

The police are searching for those involved in the beating. A team led by an SSP from the Police Headquarters was formed to investigate the incident. The Central Security Committee has also decided to send a team from the Survey Department to the area immediately.