The local administration clamped curfew in Manma, the district headquarters of Kalikot, on Saturday, as the protest against Friday’s killing of a Myadi Prahari (temporary police) personnel turned violent.

An indefinite curfew was enforced effective from 4:30pm to maintain peace and order, said Chief District Officer Badrinath Gaire.

The Myadis hired for election security in the district are enraged after a fellow recruit, Bibek Aidi, was shot dead by police on Friday for protesting against alleged pay cut. The 22-year-old, who hailed from Raskot Municipality of the district, was shot in his head.

Enraged at Aidi’s killing and arbitrary pay cut, the Myadis, backed by locals and activists of various political parties, took to the street of Manma on early Saturday morning. Aidi’s death had galvanised the Manma locals to protest police atrocity. 

They ransacked the District Police Office and the District Administration Office, accusing the two agencies of misappropriating the salary of Myadi personnel. The agitating Myadis have claimed that the district police deducted Rs 3,000 each from their salary as cost of their uniforms.

Clashes broke out between protesters and police throughout the day. More than 40 protesters and two police officers were injured.   

The protesters demanded strong action against the persons responsible for Aidi’s death, sufficient compensation to his family, and formation of a high-level committee to probe into the alleged salary misappropriation. Regional Administrator Suresh Kumar Pradhan, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Nepal Police Suresh Bikram Shahi and National Investigation Department DIG Tekendra Karki, among other officials, has reached Manma to take stock of the situation.

An all-party meeting was convened in the afternoon, in which a four-point agreement was signed among local administration, representatives of local political parties and the family of Aidi.