KATHMANDU, March 25: Nine Nepali workers have been arrested following a scuffle in Pasir Gudang of Johor Bahru, Malaysia on Sunday evening, our correspondent Surendra Paudel reported.
Santosh Poudel, Ramesh Bahadur Bhujel, Aman Gupta, Rakam Rai, Manoj Sunar, Nilkantha Jaisi, Dal Bahadur Bambo, Pawan Shah and Rakesh Raya were arrested following the incident.[break]
They were produced before the local court and later taken to Johor Bahru-based police, sources said. The charges against them have not been yet known. However, no Malaysian nationals have been arrested.
Two Nepalis injured
Two Nepalis--Rajiv Biswakarma of Samari-4, Nuwakot and Ram Lal Shah of Mohammadpur of Chandranigahapur, Rautahat-- were injured in the incident. Their conditions are reported to be normal.
Nepali embassy urges restrain
Nepali embassy in Malaysia has urged Nepali to remain calm as it is coordinating to provide security of Nepali workers with Malaysian government. The press release issued by the embassy says that no deaths of Nepali workers have been reported so far.
The embassy has asked Nepali workers to make calls at 603-2164 5934 and 603-2164 9653 during the need.
Nepali immigrant workers attacked in Malaysia
A local armed gang stormed into a hostel of Nepali immigrant workers and attacked them in Johor Bahru state, Malaysia on Sunday evening.
According to Arjun Bahadur Thapa, spokesperson at Minister of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the incident occurred as a Nepali immigrant worker used the local gang to attack its rival group following a minor scuffle with other workers.
“It has been understood that the incident occurred as a dispute erupted when an illegal migrant worker started spat with other two legal Nepali workers. The former used the local gang to attack at the hostel of its rival,” Thapa informed.
According to him, Nepali Embassy officials at Malaysia has confirmed that only two persons were inured in the incident.
Meanwhile, issuing a statement today, the MoFA informed that the Embassy of Nepal in Malaysia dispatched an official to the scene of the incident for a fact-finding mission and for rendering the necessary assistance to the Nepalese workers upon hearing of the incident.
"The Embassy official is also in close contact with the police authorities in Malaysia to find out the exact number of the injured," the statement reads further.
According to the statement, the Nepali Charge d´ Affaires is also scheduled to hold a meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia this afternoon for ensuring the safety and security of the Nepalese nationals working in Johor Bahru and elsewhere in Malaysia.
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