Former Koshi Chief Minister Karki arrested from his hunger strike site

ITAHARI: Police have arrested Kedar Karki, the former Chief Minister of Koshi Province, for defying prohibitory orders.

Karki was taken into custody from his hunger strike site in front of the Koshi Province Assembly building in Biratnagar. A clash erupted between security forces and Karki’s supporters when police tried to arrest him. Some police personnel and Karki’s supporters are said to be injured in the clash.

Karki had started his hunger strike near the Banaskhandi Mahadev Temple which lies near the entrance of the Koshi Province Assembly Secretariat. The Morang District Administration Office had imposed a prohibitory order in the area.  Karki arrived at the site with his support at around 4 pm with his supporters for the hunger strike.

The former chief minister launched the hunger strike to protest the alleged discontinuation of programs that he had initiated during his tenure by the new government. Some of these programs included free treatment for children under 10 years old, operation of the Shailja Acharya Cardiac Center, a wildlife-friendly forest campaign for the protection of elephants and other wild animals, incentive programs for female health volunteers and Kesaliya Corridor development in Biratnagar.