The 'No Cable Car Group', which has been concentrated in the Kaflepati area since February 6, returned to the headquarters in Fungling on Saturday evening. National Liberation Party Central Chairman and former Deputy Prime Minister Rajendra Mahato is also in the group. He was shown a black flag by 'S Cable Car Group' near Buddhachowk in Fungling.
He was escorted by a team of security personnel to the headquarters. Mahato, who came to Taplejung on February 7, reached Kaflepati on the morning of February 8 to participate in a walk organized by No Cable Car Group. From there, he reached the upper foothills which is two and a half kilometers away and went to the Pathibhara temple after addressing the protesting group. Even though he returned from the temple to Upper Fedi that evening, he stopped there due to the clash and blockade at the cable car construction site. He was still in Kaflepati on the 9th and returned with the protesting group in the afternoon of the 10th.
His party also issued a statement on Friday saying that Mahato had been treated indecently. According to locals, the security challenge increased after the S Cable Car Group increased surveillance on Mahato in Kaflepati. In view of the possible activities of the S group, the security source said that Mahato was skirted and brought to the headquarters. There was a heavy presence of No Cablecar and S Cablecar groups in Kaflepati on Friday. In view of the possible clash, the security agencies requested Mahato to stay there.
In view of the protest on the 8th and the possible risk, the security officer has brought the excavator machine used at the cable car construction site to Kaflepati. The cable car station is 800 meters away from Kaflepati. The protestors took out the machine and said that they will return. On Friday afternoon, the No Cable Car group again protested at Kaflepati with a procession. There was tension for some time after the S Cable Car Group also made a heavy presence and the communication materials of media persons including YouTubers were taken away.
During the clashes on Thursday, the taxi taken by Red Cross workers and INSEC representatives from the headquarters to pick up the injured was vandalized by the protestors and the driver was injured. Traffic was opened on Friday evening after the protestors promised to treat the injured and repair the vandalized vehicles.
