Abductions, murders terrorise businessmen

BIRATNAGAR, FEB 08 -

A string of abduction s and murders has terrorised the industrialists based in the Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor.

According to the Morang District Police Office (DPO), more than two dozen cases of abduction were reported in the last 10 years, in which most of the victims were local businessmen and their family members. The recent abduction and murder of industrialist Ganga Bishan Rathi has further stoked fear in business persons.

“We cannot go out without thinking about incidents of abduction s that happen almost every month. The fear is always there and it is affecting our day-to-day business,” said Abinash Bohara, chairman of the Morang Merchant Association. Incidents of kidnappers seeking hefty ransom after murdering the victim has further worsened the situation, he said.

According to the police data, two persons have been murdered after abduction since 2001, while the whereabouts of two abduction victims—Debendra Karki and Shambhu Sahani—is still unknown. “When we leave in the morning, we are not sure whether we will meet our family again. Our children are always at risk of being abducted,” said Shiva Shankar Agrawal, acting president of Morang Chambers of Industries.

Industrialist Gyan Chanda Dugad, member of Golchha Organisation, was abducted along with his wife and daughter from the bordering Indian town of Jogmuni in 1991. They were released through diplomatic efforts after some days, but the abductors were never arrested.

A decade after the incident, another industrialist Tulsiram Agrawal was abducted on January 26, 2002. The Agrawal family paid IRs 20 million in ransom to secure his safe release. He was released 41 days after his abduction . The alleged mastermind of the abduction , Indian national Pappudev Bhumihar, was arrested five years after the incident, while the second kidnapper Bhola Shankar Tiwari was held 11 years later.

Likewise, entrepreneur Pabandas Rathi, who was abducted from Narasingh VDC in Sunsari six years ago, paid an undisclosed amount for his release. Police arrested Shambhu Masaita in connection with the incident, while another accused Kamal Sharma is still at large.

DSP Uma Prasad Chartubedi, spokesperson for DPO Morang, said abduction has become so common that people are being taken hostage over minor disputes.

 

Source: The Kathmandu Post