The district administration on August 18 gave written permission to contractor Amitabh Aalam Haluwai to collect ´road tax´ in the vicinity of Krishnanagar, Suthauli checkpost and areas surrounding the customs office.[break]
Policemen working to stop unauthorized collection of money were taken aback when they found out the district administration itself had given the contractor permission in writing for that very purpose. "CDOs have no authority to give such permission," a police officer said. "But Sinha has supported the unauthorized collection of money by giving permission in writing."
Relations between the CDO and Superintendent of Police Dhiru Basnet in the district have soured for the same reason. The relations between the two top local officials worsened as one was for giving such permission while the other was against.
The CDO was irritated when police confiscated a huge quantity of rice while it was being imported illegally from India some 45 days ago. According to officials in the district, Sinha is for maintaining good relations with businessmen in the bordering areas. "There shouldn´t be odd relations with the business community just for a publicity stunt," an officer quoted CDO Sinha as saying at a meeting.
Local businesses had called an indefinite general strike in Kapilbastu against the confiscation of the rice. "At the time, the CDO committed himself before the businessmen to take action against the SP," sources said.
However, Sinha claimed that he was never uncooperative toward the police. He argued that his decision was in accordance with the Self-Governance Act. SP Basnet, however, said he did not care about anyone´s permission as he was working as per the Home Ministry´s directives to stop ´collection of tax´ by unauthorized persons.
Probe team in Krishnanagar
Meanwhile, a probe team formed by the Home Ministry to investigate the arrest of Kausal Ali Musalman allegedly for collecting ´tax´ arrived in Krishnanagar on Monday. A group of locals have enforced a general strike in Krishnanagar bazaar against the arrest.
The probe team talked to police personnel, the business community and the accused about the incident.
Shivahari Upadhyay, assistant administrator at the Regional Administration Office, heads the panel with Krishna Regmi of the same office and DSP Dipak Regmi from the regional police office as members. The members said they will submit their report in a week. Meanwhile, an all-party meeting in the district has decided to end the general strike.
Kausal a UML district member
Meanwhile, the CPN-UML district chapter in Kapilbastu has said Kaushal is a member of the party´s youth wing, Youth Association Nepal. Issuing a statement, the UML district chapter claimed that he was dragged into controversy unnecessarily. Kausal, who was a district leader of the Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party, joined the UML a few months ago.
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