Baitadi. Following a dispute over the center, the office of Surnaya Rural Municipality of Baitadi that had been locked since October 12, has now reopened after 21 days. Vice-Chairperson (VC) of the Municipality, Leela Bista informed that it was unlocked after an agreement was reached between the people’s representatives and the local Sangharsha Committee on Sunday afternoon.

Discussions were held on behalf of the people’s representatives with the participation of the Vice-Chair, by the Acting Ward Chairperson of Ward No. 5, Dhan Bahadur Madai. On behalf of the Sangharsha Committee, in attendance were members Krishna Bahadur Chand and Prem Luhar .

Bista informed that the lock had been opened for the time being with the agreement to conduct the work from the previous place and resolve the issue of the center through the all-party discussion. There was a clash on October 12. following disagreements over the center of the village municipality where fourteen people, including village Chairperson Bir Bahadur Bista were injured.

Currently, the village municipality office is in Ward No. 5, Kathegaud which was in talks of relocation. The locals had formed a Sangharsha Committee and locked the village municipality asserting that the municipality was moving the center to Pabita. Chairman Bista was stoned while attempting to unlock the office on October 14. Locals demand the decision be stalled until this case is pending in the Supreme Court. Previously, an all-party discussion held at the District Administration Office on Friday had concluded to open the lock. It included the participation of people’s representatives of Surnaya Village, State Assembly member Prem Prakash Bhatt, Nepali Congress Baitadi District President Narendra Thapa, NCP representatives, and the security chiefs.