A Myadi Prahari (temporary police) personnel was shot dead by police when a clash broke out between the two sides in Kalikot on Friday. More than two dozen others were injured.

Bibek Aidi, 21, who hailed from Raskot Municipality-2, was shot in his head while he and other Myadi recruits were protesting against low salary outside the District Police Office (DPO).

 The Myadi personnel, who were hired for election security, have accused the DPO of misappropriating the budget meant for their salary. Dipak Shahi, one of the protesting Myadis, told the Post that they were only paid Rs 58,744 each for 55 days of their service.

He claimed the DPO paid them less by making up expenses of which they had no knowledge of.

“They deducted our pay for non-existent expenses and when we raised the issue, they started shooting at us. One of our friends is dead and several others are injured for protesting this injustice,” said Shahi.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Subash Bohara said the Myadis began protesting after the DPO had just wrapped up a farewell programme for them.

“They began pelting stones, claiming that their salary had been deducted, which is not true,” he said.

According to eyewitnesses, Aidi died on the spot after suffering from a gunshot wound in his head, and that nobody bothered to get near his body, let alone take him to the hospital, for at least half an hour.

Chief District Officer Badrinath Gaire, however, claimed that Aidi was rushed to the District Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

He also maintained that there had been no irregularity regarding the salary of Myadi personnel and the police were compelled to open fire to control the violent crowd.

“The salary and allowances of Myadi were not deducted as claimed by some. Besides district police, the District Administration Office was also keeping tab of the wages and expenses,” said CDO Gaire.

The agitating Myadis are not convinced though. They claimed that the Myadis deployed in other districts had received more salary than them. They want the discrepancy explained and justified.

“Everyone of us here have worked just as hard and for the same duration,” Shahi said.

Following Aidi’s death, the enraged Myadi personnel vandalised the police posts at Pratima Chowk and Zero Point. Police lobbed several rounds of teargas shells to quell the protesters.

Nine hundred and thirteen temporary police personnel were recruited for the election of federal parliament and provincial assemblies in the district.

This is not the first incident of Myadi personnel protesting over pay cuts. Just a few days ago, Myadis in Dolakha had organised a protest after they learnt that they were charged Rs 25 extra for the meal by the canteen that also catered to Nepal Police personnel. 

A protest had also broken out among Myadis in Surkhet district over low pay for their services during the local level elections held on May 14.

Similarly, a clash had ensued between Myadis and Nepal Police personnel over pay cut in Bara on October 21, following the third phase of the local level elections which were held on September 18.