Three Arrested, Including Ward Member, Over Alleged Caste-Based Discrimination

Pokhara : Three people, including an elected ward representative, have been arrested on allegations of caste-based discrimination against a Dalit woman employee at the Ward No. 14 office of Pokhara Metropolitan City.

Police arrested ward member Krishna Hari Kafle, office assistant Ambika Bhandari and Devi BK following a complaint filed by Ganga BK, an office assistant at the ward office. According to the District Police Office, Kaski, the three were arrested from Pokhara–14.

BK had filed a complaint with the District Police Office, Kaski, on October 8, alleging that she was barred from entering the kitchen, preparing tea and meals, and serving water at the ward office because of her caste.

According to her complaint, on October 12, office assistant Bhandari told her not to enter the kitchen or prepare tea, food or serve water for 16 days, citing mourning rituals following a death in the family.

When BK asked who had issued the instruction, she was told that it had come from Kafle and others, according to her complaint. Kafle was also serving as the acting ward chairperson at the time.

BK stated in her complaint that she was denied access to the kitchen even when she went there to drink water after completing her cleaning duties at the office.

According to BK, she has been working as an office assistant at Pokhara Metropolitan City since 2002. She was transferred to Ward No. 14 approximately five months ago.

The alleged incident has raised serious concerns about caste-based discrimination in the workplace, particularly within a public institution where equal treatment and dignity should be guaranteed.