Syndication in transport at its height in Dang

DANG, Jan 2: Wednesday evening, the local administration deployed huge number of security force in the streets of Dang. Commoners anticipated arrival of VIPs in their town. However, that was not the case. The wide presence of police was actually for the security of the five new public buses readied to be introduced in the district. Syndication in the transportation sector was the reason behind the story. Without proper security, sight of new public buses could invite untoward incident. However, unfortunately, even the security force could not prevent the loss this time. Though police was on high alert, all the five buses were damaged on the way to their destination.


The AC buses belonging to Malika Kali Private Limited that left from Bhairahawa border had entered Dang at around 5 o'clock. They were heading to Tulsipur under police escorting. However, the buses were not spared. Stones were pelted on them so heavily that all the glasses were instantly broken. "It was already late evening when we reached Lamahi. As stones were thrown at moving vehicles, glasses of all the buses broke. Not only stone, some had even attacked the buses with swords," said Tika Oli, one of the drivers.

Later, the buses were again attacked at Gogli area of Lamahi - Ghorahi road section. Similar attacks were repeated at two other places in Ghorahi. "Till we reached Tulsipur, the buses were attacked four times," said Oli. "Thank god, we were not injured. Had the stones hit us, anything could happen," he added. Later all the buses were parked at the Tulsipur camp of Armed Police Force.

The police have termed the attackers as 'unknown'. However, locals claim that the incident was a result of syndication in the region. Even though the government officially outlawed syndication, it's not so in reality. Disputes had earlier flared between the newly established Malika Kalika Transportation Service and the old one, Rapti Public Transportation Committee. Malika Kalika group has alleged the latter of attacking their buses. "There is no doubt that the Rapti group did this attack," said Gehendra Oli, general secretary of Malika Kalika PVT in a press meet on Thursday. "Their boys did it," he accused.

Locals in Tulsipur fear that the struggle between the two transportation committees would not be limited just to the vandalizing of buses. After the new company entered the transportation arena with AC buses, Rapti group had countered it by four new AC buses in Tulsipur. This event had attracted huge crowd to the street. While the Rapti side does not want to lose its domination in the region, the new bus service is no less eager to have some pie of the business.

Meanwhile, Rapti Zonal Public Transport Committee stated that it has no reservations against the new public service committee. It also stressed that the Rapti group has no hand in Wednesday's incident. "Our involvement in the attack is a baseless charge," said Bharatnath Yogi, senior vice president of the committee. Even though the committee is not against fair competition, it cannot allow the old vehicles to ply on road, he said. Yogi added that the phasing out of the old vehicles is the policy of the government itself.

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