KHOTANG:  Tirtharaj Bhattarai, the mayor of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality in Khotang, has been admitted to Bir Hospital following health complications that arose during his indefinite hunger strike.

According to his secretariat, the hospitalization was done on the advice of doctors after he completed three days of fasting without food. Bhattarai had initially staged a hunger strike but began an indefinite fast-unto-death from 9 AM on Wednesday, July 30, at Maitighar Mandala, after his demands were not addressed by authorities.

Despite being hospitalized, Bhattarai has continued his hunger strike from his hospital bed. The protest, now in its critical phase, escalated after Nepal Police attempted to forcibly remove him from Maitighar on Wednesday evening, leading to a brief confrontation between law enforcement and his supporters.

Bhattarai has put forward a list of demands focused on environmental and governance reforms. These include the need for a national policy to manage monkeys and other wild animals, the creation of building codes and national material standards to promote the use of bamboo and raw materials in government offices, and strict legal action against crusher industries and others exploiting natural resources.

He has also called for a law that allows local governments to impose an additional 10 percent tax on industries that produce plastic waste and contribute to pollution.

Additionally, he is demanding that contractors responsible for abandoning road and bridge construction projects en route to Khotang be penalized and forced to complete the works.

With no response from the authorities so far, Bhattarai has declared that he will not back down, continuing his fast until his demands are met.