A scuffle broke out over alleged irregularities in relief distribution in Kanchanpur Municipality Ward 8, Saptari, on Sunday, leaving at least two people injured.

Police said Sanjaya Paswan, the ward office member, and his brother Suresh were injured when locals attacked them accusing them of nepotism while providing relief materials.

The locals have accused the Paswan brothers of distributing relief to the people close to them, those who are financially well-off to survive the lockdown.

Sanjaya, who suffered head injuries in the incident, was taken to BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan for treatment.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Makendra Kumar Mishra said the locals have accused Sanjaya of including the names of those people on the relief beneficiary list who do not need the government’s aid.

Paswan has denied the locals’ allegation.   

Irregularities in relief distribution have also been reported in other parts of Saptari.

In Dakanewshwari Municipality Ward 8, relief beneficiaries have accused their ward office representatives of favouritism while distributing foodstuffs.

Following the controversy, the ward office has postponed the relief distribution, Mayor Shiva Narayan Sah said.

Meanwhile, in Chhinnamasta and Bishnupur rural municipalities, the local governments are yet to prepare the name list of the people who need relief. 

Relief programmes in many parts of the country have landed in controversy over alleged irregularities, delays in relief handover, distribution of substandard foodstuff and partiality of local representatives.   

A week earlier, Nawalparasi locals had returned spoiled foodstuff that were distributed as relief. In Bara district, a mayor has been implicated in a case for distributing spoiled rice and lentils.