Dog Shelter Activists Clash with Biratnagar Mayor Over Budget Request

A heated argument took place between dog protection activists and the Mayor of Biratnagar after the activists requested financial support for their shelter.

Siblings Shahil and Alina Prasai, who have been working to protect street dogs, visited Mayor Nagesh Koirala’s office on Monday to ask for help. They have been running a dog shelter in Rani, a flood-prone area in southern Biratnagar, under the organization Alinas Animals Preservation Nepal.

According to Alina, they were treated disrespectfully and left the mayor’s office feeling humiliated. She said Mayor Koirala rudely refused to support them and even tried to hit her brother when he suggested they leave.

Alina claimed that during the meeting, she explained the difficulties they’ve been facing while running the shelter since 2019. However, the mayor responded harshly, saying the municipality doesn’t support any organizations and prefers to work independently.

In a Facebook Live video, Alina accused the mayor of chasing them down to the second floor, shouting insults like “Sala gadha Prasai” (a Nepali insult). She added, “I didn’t go there asking for a job—I went to ask for help for the dogs.”

The siblings have been managing the shelter using their own money and help from individuals. They felt insulted by the mayor’s behavior after seeking local government support.

A witness present during the exchange said the mayor became angry after Shahil told his sister to leave. The mayor reportedly followed them out of the office in frustration.

Mayor Koirala denied mistreating them and claimed he was provoked by offensive words. “If someone insulted your mother, how would you react?” he said in response to the accusations.

The incident has sparked public attention, especially among animal welfare supporters.