Jajarkot, Nepal — Amar Prasad Shah, the Division Forest Officer (DFO) of Jajarkot, was physically assaulted inside his own office on Sunday. A group of individuals reportedly entered his office and attacked him. The incident, caught on video and widely circulated on social media, has sparked serious concerns over the security of government officials in the workplace.
Assault Linked to Employee Termination Dispute
According to Shah, he had just returned to the office after completing routine field inspections when he found three young men seated inside his office. During an initial conversation, the group questioned the termination of a contract employee. As Shah moved toward his cabinet to retrieve related documents, the men suddenly launched a physical assault.
“I was trying to show them the official decision documents when I was struck from behind—on my back and face,” Shah said in a statement to the media following the incident. “There was bleeding from my nose, though fortunately, I did not sustain any serious injuries.”
The attackers fled the scene shortly after the assault. Video footage of the incident shows a group of three to four individuals repeatedly punching Shah, further fueling public outrage online.
Shah believes the attack was directly linked to his recent decision to terminate the contract of Manoj Nepali, who had been serving in a temporary position for approximately 11 months. The dismissal, which took effect from mid-June (Asar 1 in the Nepali calendar), was reportedly due to a lack of financial resources.
“We are facing budget constraints, which made it necessary to reduce the number of contract-based staff,” Shah explained.
Prior Threats Reported; Police Launch Investigation
Shah also disclosed that one of the attackers had previously issued threats over the phone. The caller, identified as Birajan Shahi, allegedly claimed to be affiliated with the Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’-led Communist Party of Nepal and had expressed anger over the contract termination.
District Police spokesperson DSP Subash Sharma confirmed that the office is aware of the incident and that an investigation is underway. “The individuals involved in the assault are currently at large, but we have intensified efforts to locate and apprehend them,” Sharma said.
The incident has raised alarm over the safety of civil servants working in remote government offices, highlighting an urgent need for stronger security protocols.
