SARLAHI: Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Madhes Province Chairperson Ashok Kumar Yadav has gone into hiding after the Sarlahi District Court issued an arrest warrant against him on Friday.

The warrant was issued in connection with a case of criminal mischief following a verbal altercation with Sarlahi’s District Police Chief, SP Yogendra Kumar Khadka.

The incident stems from a heated phone exchange between Yadav and SP Khadka over the alleged misuse of police presence at the Infrastructure Development Office in Malangawa.

Yadav accused the police of protecting irregular activities taking place at the office toward the end of the fiscal year. During the call, Yadav was heard using abusive language, calling the police “thieves” and alleging they were deployed to “loot Madhes.” The audio of the conversation has since gone viral on social media.

Following the court’s approval for arrest, police launched a search operation at Yadav’s residence in Kabilasi Municipality–10, Salimpur. However, as of Saturday morning, he remains at large, according to DSP Saroj Rai, the Sarlahi police spokesperson.

Yadav, a former member of the Madhes Provincial Assembly, was almost arrested late Thursday night, but his supporters allegedly vandalized a police vehicle and obstructed the operation, prompting authorities to increase security measures.

A large police force from various units has now been mobilized at the District Police Office in Malangawa in an effort to apprehend him.