Party not in contact with Kham: UCPN-M

KATHMANDU, July 13: The UCPN (Maoist) has said that the party could not now do anything against Kali Bahadur Kham -- Maoist Central Committee member and commander of the PLA Fifth Division based in Dahaban, Rolpa -- who is alleged to have masterminded a recent robbery of Chinese traders in the capital, as the latter had long since been out of contact.

“What can we do while he is out of contact?” said Maoist spokesman Dinanath Sharma. [break]

Sources told myrepublica.com that two senior Maoist leaders visited Kham´s residence at Gongabu, which police raided on Sunday. Sharma, however, did not comment when asked whether any such visit from the party took place.

Meanwhile, Kham, who was contacted by myrepublica.com over the phone, denied involvement in the robbery.

He admitted that the raided residence belonged to him and said he also owned the laptop, personal documents and Rs 500,000 reportedly seized by police. But he denied ownership of the yarsagumba medicinal herbs that police claimed he possessed illegally, the vehicles reportedly used for robbing the Chinese or the fake official seals.

Kham, who claimed that the allegation against him was inspired by political interests, said he was ready to help the state if there is a fair investigation.

Police claimed that Kham had plotted to rob three Chinese traders--Mukhum Dukh, 40, Mamani, 33, and Mamali, 43--of Rs 2,620,000 at a guest house at Mitranagar, Gongabu on Friday evening.

In connection with the robbery, police arrested eight persons who reportedly pointed out Kham as the mastermind. Police also claimed that 10 bullets that can be used in different weapons were seized in the raid.

Police, meanwhile, have urged the Maoists to help hand Kham over to the authorities. “As per internationally accepted norms, that would be an obligation for a good political party if any of its members are sought by the state for violating laws,” said SP Ramesh Kharel, chief of Metropolitan Police Range Kathmandu.

Kharel said that he had not been in communication with the Maoists in this connection. He said police have been widely mobilized to arrest Kham. “We have kept up surveillance at many places including the residences of Maoist leaders,” he added.

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According to Kharel, the Santro car (Na 1 Cha 8736) used by Kham might be illegal and its status would soon be known.

Kharel also said police intelligence has found that Kham has long been operating a yarsagumba trafficking racket in the capital.

Kham had been at large ever since he was accused of murdering businessman Ram Hari Shrestha two years ago. He was inducted by the Maoists into their Central Committee in January, 2009, though he had been absconding following the Shrestha murder in May 2008.

He was transferred last year from the PLA Third Division at Shaktikhor, Chitwan, where PLA men allegedly tortured Shrestha to death, to the PLA Fifth Division at Dahaban, Rolpa.

According to Maoist sources, the party has been aware of Kham´s covert activities including illegal yarsagumba trading. Inside the party he is considered to have been close to Pushpa Kamal Dahal and held good sway in the PLA.

Sources also claimed that he had not returned to Rolpa since the party´s latest Central Committee meeting held in the capital in May 2010.

Maoist sources further claimed that Kham would deal directly with Chinese traders and was preferred by the latter as he would provide them yarsagumba at cheaper rates.

I want fair investigation: Kham

Kham spoke to myrepublica.com on the phone Tuesday evening. Excerpts:

1. What do you say about the allegation of robbery against you?

Kham: That is not true. It is something fabricated by ´political interests´ within the government.

2. But your residence was raided.

Kham: Yes, I have rented that flat for both personal and party use. I own the laptop, certificates and the money for which I can show the sources. But I do not own the vehicles and the yarsagumba that police claim to be mine.

People and party activists from the villages would usually come to the residence. The yarsagumba could have been brought by them, but I am not aware of that. And I have not stayed there for three months now.

3. What about the fake official seals? Police claim the others arrested pointed to you.

Kham: They were not mine, and those things rather belonged to Ganesh Malla. I only know Ashok Khati, Jitendra Magar, Saugat Magar and Karna Shahi and believe they were not involved in the robbery either. I do not know the others.

4. Nevertheless, you are now the one sought after by the state on a criminal charge.

Kham: I want the state to begin a fair investigation. I will definitely cooperate.