Tarai violence surges post election

Use of arms becoming chronic: Police

BY THIRA L BHUSAL

KATHMANDU, May 10 - Incidents of murder, kidnapping, looting and other criminal activity have seen a resurgence in the eastern and central tarai districts after a brief hiatus during the Constituent Assembly elections.

The trend comes with a clear escalation of violence by various armed groups operating in the tarai in the post-CA election period. The government had mobilized special task forces in the tarai districts and security agencies in Nepal and India worked hand in hand to curb violence and criminal activity along the border areas during the CA poll. The Nepal-India border was also sealed for a few days during the poll.

Following relaxation in security after the election, at least 14 persons have been killed, more than 30 abducted and scores of other sustained injuries in separate incidents in the 13 eastern and central tarai districts. Fifteen incidents of bomb blast also took place in these districts.

In the eastern region alone, and mainly in Siraha and Saptari, nine people were killed, 18 abducted and a bank robbed after April 10. Ten persons sustained bullet and other injuries and four bomb explosions took place, according to police records. Similarly, two other cases of robbery and 14 incidents of looting were reported in these districts during the same period. Police in the region seized three weapons in connection with the incidents.

Likewise, in the central region, at least three people were shot dead in separate incidents after the CA poll. Nepal Police in the region recorded 11 cases of abduction, 14 incidents of bomb explosion and four bomb disposals. At least four of the abducted persons were rescued by police. Several people were injured in six other separate attacks in several of the districts.

In Janakpur, an accountant at Janakpur Cigarette Factory, Shrawan Kumar Shrestha, was found shot dead Wednesday morning at Icchyapur along a river bank. Shrestha, 52, had been abducted four days ago. Abinash Mukti of Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (Rajan Mukti Group) has owned up to the killing. In Rupandehi, a group of armed and unidentified assailants shot and killed a construction worker at Bodhbar-1 Bishnupura, Wednesday midnight. The deceased has been identified as 38-year-old Arjun Bohara of Krishnapur, Chitwan.

Deputy Inspector General Ravindra Pratap Shah informed that criminal elements have begun to rear their head again in Siraha and Saptari. "The present situation is comparable to what it was till a week before the election," Shah said.

According to DIG Kiran Gautam, the Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) and other armed groups have begun creating trouble lately. "It is mainly the issuing of threats over the phone to exact money that is increasing," he informed.

Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Nepal Police, Keshav Baral, said small arms imported from India are being used in killings, kidnappings, looting and other criminal activity.

"People have learnt to make improvised bombs and other homemade weapons and the use of these is increasing," said Baral, adding, "Our society will suffer for a long time from this chronic problem." AIG Baral said that a political decision is needed and the government should come up with concrete policies and legal provisions to resolve the problem for good.

Posted on: 2008-05-09 19:00:13 (Server Time)