Kathmandu, Jan. 24 -- A group of residents from Chobhar had gathered at the Kirtipur mayor's office on January 20 to submit a memorandum, requesting the local government to intervene against the construction of a dry port. Emotions ran high as the members of the Chobhar Conservation Committee detailed their reasons for their reservation and the use of force by the armed police two days earlier when Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli laid the foundation stone for the dry port at the south-western township in Kathmandu Valley.

Fifty-four protesters were arrested that day, as around 150 locals gathered with placards and chanted slogans against the plan for the dry port. But according to local residents, the armed police force had begun detaining ...