DOLPA: Four people have been arrested in Tripurasundari Municipality with a large quantity of illegally collected herbs. They have been taken into custody and handed over to the She-Phoksundo National Park administration, it has been reported.

A joint patrol team from the Nepali Army conducted a raid at 3:30 a.m. today in the Tripurakot area of Tripurasundari Municipality-1, seizing approximately 35 quintals of Padamchal herb and two tractors.

The operation was carried out by a joint team from the Nepali Army and senior game scouts from the park administration office, under the command of Lieutenant Sushil Dahal of Shri Sangram Sardul Company, it has been reported.

Those arrested are Naresh Budha, 36, of Tripurasundari-5; Elish Budha, 25 (driver), of Salyan’s Kumakh Rural Municipality-4; Krishna BK, 48 (driver), of Rukum West’s Aathbiskot Municipality-7; and Bikas Rokaya, 33, of Tripurasundari-5. They have been handed over to the park administration office with a double surety for necessary investigation and action, said Captain Harish Shahi of Shri Sangram Sardul Company of Nepali Army.

According to Bigyan Sen, Assistant Conservation Officer at the She-Phoksundo National Park Office, the herbs were confiscated after being collected from the park area without permission and while being transported out of the district. He said that the collection of Jathamasi (Bhulte) has recently been banned in Dolpa, and in the case of Padamchal, permission is granted only after studying the action plan and identifying suitable areas.