In clashes between protesters and police in the Pathibhara region of eastern Nepal’s Taplejung district at least 24 people, twelve of them police personnel, were hurt. Fresh violence has broken out over a contested cable car project to the revered Pathibhara Devi temple, officials have confirmed.
Anti-cable car group, opposing the project on cultural and environmental reasons clashed with security personnel in Phungling town Saturday evening. Law enforcement officials said 15 people were apprehended from the violence.
Ahead of municipals fearing that the situation might worsen, Taplejung district administration imposed prohibitory order from Sunday morning, restricting people from gathering and airing any public demonstration in Phungling Bazaar area and Pathibhara. Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma said that the steps were required to bring order back in the district. 
This is not the first confrontation. Copesans had already clashed with police at the construction site on February 20, heightening tensions. Opposition parties, including Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s Rajendra Lingren and Rastriya Swotantra Party’s Toshima Karki have called the government to shelve the project as local residents are turning their face against it.
As the unrest drags on, the government has so far been innervated to publicly pronounce on the cable car scheme, long-pointed feuds over development and cultural coverage in the area have resurfaced.
