Dhruba Bahadur Sarki, 55, and Madhumaya Sarki, 45, of Bohoribot in Panchawati VDC-4 have filed a complaint against two local youths at District Police Office on February 1 accusing them of caste-based discrimination at the public place. The complaint filed by Sarkis says that Raju Ruwale Magar, 40, and Madhav Ruwale Magar had stopped them from participating in a function organized to mark the coming-of-age ceremony at the courtyard of Bhakta Bahadur Rana Magar on January 30 calling them as belonging to the lower caste. The victims said that they were told to leave saying that the courtyard was too congested and if they touched the food, nobody else would have it. They added that when they began having food, the accused told them to maintain a distance or to leave adding that the Magar duo came to their home the next morning and reiterated the insult. Dhruba’s son Bishnu said that they came to the police station after they were threatened by expulsion from the village if they dared to question the practice of untouchability. SP Tek Bahadur Gurung said that they would investigate the complaint adding the concerned police station had been asked to arrest the accused.

Bharat Khadka