TAPLEJUNG: A video of CPN-UML Secretary and Member of Parliament Yogesh Bhattarai being locked inside a toilet by police for his security has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread public attention.
The incident occurred on Friday when Bhattarai reached Lelep in his home district, Taplejung, to inaugurate the Kanchenjunga Diamond Festival alongside Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey.
As soon as Bhattarai arrived, he was met with protests from a local group opposing the construction of a cable car in the area.
Eyewitnesses said that as chants of “No Cable Car” erupted, Bhattarai climbed stairs and entered a nearby toilet. Protesters quickly surrounded the building, prompting police to barricade the door to protect him. The crowd continued shouting slogans, leading to a tense standoff.
According to Police Inspector Bibek Basnet, who is also the information officer at Taplejung District Police Office, the MP had entered the toilet of his own accord.
“There is nothing unusual as being portrayed online. The honorable MP went to the toilet as he needed to urinate,” he said, downplaying the virality of the footage.
Additional police forces were deployed to control the situation, eventually dispersing the crowd. Locals said the situation had grown so tense that security personnel had to prepare for an emergency evacuation, potentially by helicopter, to ensure Bhattarai’s safety.
They also reported minor scuffles between protesters and police after some tried to breach the security perimeter.
Bhattarai’s visit, which was intended to promote tourism through the Kanchenjunga Diamond Festival, was overshadowed by growing local resistance to the proposed cable car project. Protesters argue that the project could negatively impact the region’s environment and cultural heritage.
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