Kathmandu- Police personnel reported missing following an attack on the Karopguard Area Police Office in Tripurasundari Municipality–5 of Dolpa have now been contacted, even as the whereabouts of a local youth who went missing in a river remain unknown.
Chief District Officer Bhimraj Koirala said that some police officers had temporarily moved to a safer location on Saturday evening to secure their weapons amid vandalism and threats. Contact was re-established with them later that night after the situation returned to relative calm.
The unrest erupted after 34-year-old Jun Rokaya of Lha village went missing in the Thuliveri River during a police check on Friday. Angry locals attacked the Karopguard police outpost on Saturday evening, damaging the facility and injuring several police personnel.
Police have claimed that Rokaya jumped into the river while officers were attempting to question him at Chhepke Bridge on suspicion of drug trafficking. However, local residents have accused the police of forcibly throwing him into the Lakheti–Lakheti River, allegations that authorities say are under investigation.
As of Sunday, Rokaya’s condition and whereabouts remain unknown. Security forces have continued search operations along the river, but no trace has been found so far.
In response to the incident, the district administration has formed a three-member investigation committee under the leadership of SP Ram Prasad Gharti Magar of the Karnali Province Police Office. CDO Koirala said the committee has been tasked with conducting an independent and fair inquiry into the events surrounding the youth’s disappearance and the subsequent violence.
All 10 police personnel deployed at the Karopguard Area Police Office have been withdrawn to the district headquarters. The administration has also initiated a separate investigation into four police officers said to have been directly involved at the time of Rokaya’s disappearance.
The district administration said it is making efforts to hold dialogue with local representatives and community members, assuring that justice will be delivered based on the findings of the investigation.
Meanwhile, residents of Lhanka village have announced an indefinite traffic shutdown across Dolpa in protest, demanding accountability and clarity over the incident. Authorities say security arrangements have been tightened while efforts continue to defuse tensions through negotiation.
