As villagers go for yarsa picking, looters ransack houses in Mugu

MUGU: A marauding gang of looters plundered Dolphu Village of Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality-1 in Mugu district, taking advantage of the absence of villagers on Saturday.

The villagers had left their homes to collect the precious herb, yarshagumba.

The armed looters ransacked houses and made off with cash and jewelleries among others, according to Chairman of Karmarong Rural Municipality, Chhiring Kyapne Lama.

“There were only elderly and children in the village in which the armed gang took advantage of. Of 50 houses, the gang plundered assets from 23 houses,” he informed, adding that even a priest at a shrine was beaten by the gang.

The gang did not spare even the dogs guarding the houses.

Meanwhile, Chief District Officer Topendra KC informed that a police team was deputed from Pulu Police Post, a five-hour trek from the village, immediately after receiving the information.

Mugum Karmarong-1 Chairman Tunduk Lama had informed police about the looting spree. The assailants had come with guns, scimitars and khukuris. They robbed jewelleries, ancient pots, medicinal herbs, and clothes, he added.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Birendra Thapa, informed that the incident site had no access to communications, so it was difficult to contact police personnel mobilized there.

Ward no 1, 3 and 4 of Mugum Karmarong rural municipality fall in the Tse Phoksundo National Park.

After the local level gave permission to collect yarshagumba for this season, the locals had left villages since May 23.