Import through Tatopani customs affected

SINDHUPALCHOWK, Jan 12:

Import of goods through Tatopani Customs Point was affected on the fifth straight day on Sunday as transportation workers protested arrest of their colleagues on murder charge.

About 2,200 workers associated with around 1,100 containers have stopped handling cargoes for the past five days to protest the arrest of their six colleagues by District Police Office, Kavrepalanchowk, for investigation in connection with the murder of Gyanu Raj Thakuri in Panchkhal on January 2.

The Tatopani unit of Nepal Transport Independent Labor Union is leading the protest.

Four of the arrested workers have been released. But two are still in custody.

Because of the protest, as many as 300 containers have been stopped at the transit point. Eight containers are in the custom yard, awaiting customs clearance works, while 250 are in Tibet to load goods.

Altogether 1,500 containers ferry goods through the Tatopani customs point.

Bishnu Shrestha, section officer at Tatopani Customs Office, said revenue collection has been affected due to the protest. "Most of the containers are carrying goods like winter clothing, shoes and sandals, among others. We are losing Rs 20 million worth of revenue every day," he added.

The transportation workers have argued that their colleagues were wrongfully arrested in the name of investigation.

Container drivers Dhan Bahadur Shrestha, Anand Thapa and Binod Sherpa and helper Bacchu Adhikari have been released. Similarly, two other drivers, Nima Dorje Tamang and Pemba Sherpa, are still in police custody for investigation.

Source: Republica