Political parties in Dolakha have padlocked the local office of Nepal Red Cross Society, accusing the office of  irregularities in relief distribution following the Gorkha Earthquake of April 2015.

The representatives of political parties in the district locked the office on Sunday evening, just days after a complaint against the Red Cross was registered at the District Administration Office by the local political leaders and Civil Society representatives.

The Red Cross is accused of not maintaining transparency in relief distribution process.

CPN-UML leader Santosh Pradhan claimed that the works carried out by the Red Cross in Dolakha was far from satisfactory.

“Relief materials were distributed in a haphazard manner despite our several requests to make them accessible to all earthquake-affected people. There was no system in place. The Red Cross workers were doling out relief as their wish dictated,” he said.

The issue of alleged disparity in relief had even led to the vandalism of the Red Cross office in the district a few months ago.

Besides relief distribution, the Red Cross is also running shelter, livelihood and health programmes for the earthquake survivors in Dolakha.

“We were compelled to lock the Red Cross office, for it did not heed to our request of making its works in the district transparent and equitable,” Pradhan said.

Tika Narayan Pradhan, the district chairman of Red Cross, denied the charges.

“Yes, the Red Cross was involved in rescue and relief works in the wake of the earthquake. And I assure you that all of our works were transparent,” he said.

• Chief District Officer Pusparaj Shahi said the charges against the Red Cross were subject to investigation as many people have come forward questioning its works.