A police team from Rasuwagadhi arrested the smugglers and recovered the sandalwood hidden in a false bottom of a truck. The sandalwood was recovered in the course of regular checkup. While the four of the smugglers were arrested from Rasuwa other three, including former district secretary of UCPN-Maoist, Madhav Lamichhane were arrested from Syanfrubesi-based Sky Hotel. [break]
Red-sandalwood is prohibited for trade under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). However, smuggling of red sandalwood to China via Nepal is on the rise lately. After the police stepped up surveillance along the Kodari Highway and Tatopani Border Point, smugglers have been using Rasuwagadhi border point to export red sandalwood.
Chief District Officer of Rasuwa Basudev Ghimire confirmed that seven people were arrested for trying to smuggle red sandalwood. Those arrested are truck driver Chhatra Bahadur Tamang of Those-1 in Ramechhap, truck owner Birendra Singh Tamang of Dhunche-1 in Rasuwa, Lale Tamang of Tatopani-8 in Sindhupalchok and Purna Bahadur Tamang, of Ghorthali-9 in Sindhupalchok.
Similarly, Ahidraman battalion of Nepal Army (NA) entrusted with providing security to Langtang National park arrested UCPN (Maoist) district leader Madhav Lamichhane, Dhurba Parajuli of Tinkune and Dikesh Rimal of Koteshwar in Kathmandu from Sky Hotel. A former Maoist combatant Rudra Timalsena, however, fled from the hotel, according to NA source. NA team has also seized a motorcycle (BA 41 Pa 965) used by the smugglers.
According NA source, central leaders of UCPN (Maoist) have been pressing the authorities to release Lamichhane. “Lamichhane has denied his involvement in smuggling but NA has claimed that Lamichhane is a key player in the smuggling,” said a source at Ahidraman battalion.
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