June 9, Kathmandu- A clash has broken out between workers of a contractor company excavating in Shardu Khola of Dharan Sub-metropolis-17 and locals who came to stop it. Some locals have been injured in the clash.

While excavating on the Dharan-Chatara road section to the north of a bridge, 8-10 people including Rajesh Khimdung of Dharan came to a halt the work. Police said that the locals were not allowed to pick up the stone by the contractor and instead used a dozer to excavate.

The incident site is near the protected Chure area. According to Surya Bahadur Bhattarai, Ward Chairman of Dharan Sub-Metropolis-17, the municipality had signed a contract for excavation in the area outside the Chure area. He said that there was a scuffle between those who stopped the excavation after the contractor started excavating. "Those who stopped were from Dharan but not from the affected areas," he said.

DSP Gyanendra Bahadur Basnet of the Area Police Office Dharan said that five people were arrested for stopping the excavation. "The clashes erupted after the excavation workers were assaulted," he said. "Those arrested are being investigated."

Rajesh Khimdung, who had gone to stop the excavation, has sustained a head injury. Local Hark Sampang has been protesting against the excavation for some time. Sampang was not present during the clash on Wednesday afternoon.

Injured Khimdung said that the locals were also beaten in a hooligan style instead of being allowed to extract ballast sand.