The study committee formed to resolve the border dispute between Humla and Bajura districts has returned after conducting an on-site study of the two districts. On 10th of Jestha, the government had formed a 7-member committee under the coordination of Sushil Dangol, Deputy Director General of the Survey Department, to study the technical aspects of the border and submit a report. The committee has studied the border for about a week. The committee will submit its report to the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration.

Along with Dangol, the committee includes Hari Prasad Guragain, Undersecretary of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Umakanta Adhikari, Undersecretary of the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers of Karnali Province, Khimananda Aryal, and Undersecretary of the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers of Sudurpaschim Province, Narayan Shah.

‘We have reached the disputed area of ​​Lampata, including the headquarters of both districts, and have worked to understand the reality by discussing with security officials, stakeholders and locals,’ said Coordinator Dangol, ‘The report is being prepared, and the work of studying the records and necessary documents so far is also ongoing.’ He informed that preparations are underway to submit the report to the concerned ministry within a week after its preparation. According to him, the on-site monitoring work began from Simkot, the headquarters of Humla, on Asad 20, and the study was completed from Martadi, the headquarters of Bajura, on Monday.

The team was provided with evidence collected from Humla, various facts, and documents including previous court decisions, according to Shivraj Sharma, the head of the District Coordination Committee, Humla. Similarly, in Bajura, the team discussed the border with stakeholders, locals and people’s representatives. 

‘We have given the team the opinions and suggestions to be given on behalf of the district along with the necessary documents requested by the committee,’ he said, ‘the committee will take the necessary decision after the necessary investigation.’ Rajkala Sarki, vice-chairperson of Himali Rural Municipality of Bajura, said that they are confident that the committee will deliver justice.

There is a dispute between the residents of both districts over the ownership of the Ranisain area. Ranisain is at the foot of the Saipal Himal, where the border area of ​​three districts - Humla, Bajhang and Bajura - falls. Similarly, the main road to Ranisain is the border area of ​​Himali in Bajura, Namkha, Simkot and Sarkegad Rural Municipality of Humla. 

Residents of Raya and Thali of Kharpunath Rural Municipality-2 were using pasture and grazing in the Lampata area. But the residents of Humla had obstructed them, saying that the locals of Bajura were going to establish a police post in Lampata. The dispute began after the residents of Humla obstructed the construction of buildings and other structures through the consumer committee with a budget of Rs 4 million from the Sudurpaschim government. Due to the dispute, there were repeated clashes and beatings between residents of both districts, and the Karnali Highway was closed for almost a week.

The Humla police have arrested 21 people from Kharpunath rural municipality on charges of beating up locals of Lampata, Himali rural municipality-3, Bajura. On June 15, after four people from Bajura were injured in a clash between residents of both districts, a complaint was filed against 21 people from Humla at the District Police Office, Bajura. All those mentioned in the complaint were arrested and handed over to the Bajura police for further investigation, said DSP Shankar Khadka, chief of Humla police.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had also formed another committee to investigate the border dispute incidents between the two districts. The ministry had formed a four-member committee under the coordination of Senior Superintendent of Police Bimal Raj Kandel, including Bajura Police Chief DSP Shaileshwari Bohara, and Karnali Province Police Office DSP Sugandha Shrestha. After 10 days of investigation, the committee submitted a report on the incident to the Home Ministry via the Police Headquarters, said Karnali Province Police Chief DIG Jayaraj Sapkota.