District Police Office (DPO) of Jajarkot had confiscated ten Kyanite and Tourmaline stones from remote Majkot Village of Jajarkot on September 28. Acting on a tip-off, police team deployed from Area Police Office of Dasera and Panchalad, had arrested Bal Krishna Shahi of Kortang-2 and Jagat Bahadur Shahi of Gorkhakot-2 with 150 kg of precious stones loaded on a mule at 11 pm while en route to Dailekh district.Similarly, Hari Bahadur Shahi of Kortang was arrested while transporting 50kg of stones with the help of three local porters to Dailekh at night on October 9. Six persons were arrested in connection with the incident.
According to locals, villagers mine gemstones and sell it cheaply to middlemen. Middlemen then sell it to contractors, who smuggle it outside, evading tax. "Gemstones are sold at Rs 150 to 160 by locals. Middlemen and contractors then smuggle and sell it to buyers outside the district," said Janak Bahadur Singh, a local.
Police said smuggling cases of precious stones have risen especially with the approach of Dashain festival. Locals claimed that the rise in smuggling is due to the negligence of local governing bodies and stakeholders. "Smuggling is especially rampant in Paikh, Daha, Kortang, Majkot, Pajaru, Talegaun, Archani of the district," informed Dan Bahadur Malla, chief of DPO, Jajarkot.
Tek Bahadur Khatri, officer at District Development Committee said that Village Development Committees are coordinating with the DPO to curb cases of gemstone smuggling. "Smuggling will be controlled only with the support of every stakeholder," he said.
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