The temporary police personnel or “Myadi Prahari” deployed in Surkhet for the May 14 local elections have accused the District Police Office of deducting up to Rs 12,000 from their salary by showing them various non-existent expenses. 

They staged a demonstration outside the District Administration Office (DAO) on Thursday to bring to the attention of the concerned authorities “the embezzlement carried out by police”.  

Mahesh Bista, one of the protesters, said they were handed Rs 39,000 for 55 days of work, instead of the promised salary of Rs 51,538. “Without a doubt the district police has committed embezzlement and we demand an investigation,” he said.

Another protester Kabiraj BK said they were short-changed right from the beginning. 

“The government had allocated Rs 7,100 each for our uniform, but we later found out that the uniforms were made for Rs 2,603 per person. What happened to the remainder sum of money, they are not telling us. And the sleeping bags, mats and shoes, we bought ourselves with our own money,” he said.

Superintendent of Police Mohan Acharya has denied the allegation. “They are protesting without knowing anything,” he said.