Darchula, May 17: People of the Byansi Shauka community in Byas Rural Municipality-1, Darchula district, who had migrated to Khalanga en masse to avoid the cold during winter have returned to their native villages.

The caravan of the Byansi Shauka people returned to Chhangru and Tinkar villages in Byas from Khalanga, the district headquarters of Darchula district, via the Indian route. They had migrated to Khalanga during winter with all their belongings and livestock.

The entire people of Byansi Shauka community descend to the lower land in winter to avoid the chill in their mountainous settlements and return to their villages in summer. However, they need to use the Indian territory while coming down to Khalanga or returning to their villages.

This summer, the first group of people reached Tinker village, which is located 12 kilometers away from Chharung, on Wednesday.

According to the locals, all the people have returned to their native villages as the summer season is already at its peak.

While travelling from Khalanga they took a route through Dharchula in India and returned to Sitapul in Nepal. It takes around five days to cover the distance on foot.

Ward Chairman Ashok Singh Bohara said that the Shauka folk moved from India's Dharchula on foot along the banks of the Mahakali River to Sitapul, and from there, they walked along the banks of the Tinker Khola.

He said that due to heavy snowfall and cold, Shauaka folk migrate to Khalanga during winter and return to their homelands in May.

People of this community engage in worship, animal husbandry and agriculture according to their tradition and culture.

After returning to their homeland, they will stay there for around seven months and will again migrate to Khalanga at the start of the winter season.

Before the conflict period, these people used to walk through the route within Nepali territory. Since the foot trail has not been maintained since conflict era, they are forced to take a route through India.

Yogesh Bohara, a local, said that the people faced difficulties while passing through the Indian roads. He said, "The Shauka folks sometimes have to face misbehaviours from the Indian security forces.

They can travel only after obtaining multi-travel permission (permission to take animals) from the Indian side as the route passes through the prohibited area."

The Indian side issues permission to the travellers on the recommendation of the Nepali administration.

Earlier on May 7, a team of security chiefs led by the Home Secretary inspected the Byas area. They landed at Chharung on a helicopter of the Nepali Army.

When the Inspector Generals of the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force reached Chhiyalek of Tinker on a helicopter on Tuesday, the caravans were still on their way to the village.

In the past, the security chiefs used to reach Chhiyalek only after the villagers returned to Tinker, but this time, they visited the Byas area before the caravans returned to their villages.

Published on: 17 May 2024 | The Rising Nepal