Kankre Bihar row reaches court

SURKHET: The dispute over the installation of a Buddha statue at Kankre Bihar in the district has now reached to the court.

Padam Dev Giri, President of the Kankre Bihar Historic, Archaeological Treasures Protection Committee and Lil Bahadur Bhandari of Latikoili VDC on Sunday lodged a writ petition at the Appellate Court here demanding that the court issue an appropriate order barring installation of the Buddha statue at the archaeological site.

In the writ, the plaintiffs have argued that the Buddha statue was being installed at Kankre Bihar, a place with archaeological, historical and tourism importance, in contravention of the Forest Act and the forest conservation action plan.

The writ petition states that the District Development Committee (DDC), the District Administration Office and the District Forest Office’s recommendation to the government allowing for the installation of the statue is illegal.

The dispute relates to the attempt by various Buddhist organizations and indigenous communities to install a Buddha statue in Kankre Bihar on May 25, 2013 on the occasion of the 2557th birth anniversary of the Buddha and opposition to it. The Buddhist organizations and indigenous communities are holding protest programs in the capital Kathmandu to press for their demand.