Raute clan leader Shahi passes away

SURKHET: Surya Narayan Shahi, a Mukhiya, or the leader, of the endangered Raute community, known for their nomadic lifestyle in the forests, has passed away.

Lal Bahadur Khatri of SOSEC Nepal, which has been working for the well-being of the Raute community, said that Shahi passed away on Monday night at around 9:30 pm.

According to Khatri, Shahi’s death was caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

The Raute community has three leaders, each representing one of their three clans. Shahi was the leader of the Kalyal clan and had been appointed as a leader in May 2015.

The community is currently split into two groups living in separate locations. Shahi was leading one group residing in a forest in Sotkhola of Barahatal Rural Municipality-8, Surkhet. The other group, led by two leaders, is settled in Karekhola of Birendranagar-13.

Following Shahi’s death, the Raute population has decreased to 135.