RAUTAHAT, Sept 26: The District Administration Office (DAO), Rautahat on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant against Sumit Rauniyar, the owner of Pappu Construction, on the charge of failing to complete infrastructure projects in the district on time. Rauniyar is the son of lawmaker Hari Narayan Prasad Rauniyar.
The move comes after the locals filed a complaint at the DAO blaming the contractor for the deaths of five people in last month's boat capsize in the Lalbakaiya River in the district. Rauniyar's company, which was responsible for constructing a bridge over the river had left the construction work incomplete for years. The boat carrying 29 passengers had hit one of the pillars of the bridge and capsized on August 25.
Rautahat District Court issues arrest warrant against Pappu's c...
Following the accident, the locals blamed the contractor for the accident and the deaths arguing that they would not have to undergo perilous boat ride to cross the river had the contractor completed the bridge within the stipulated time.
We have mobilized our entire strength to nab him. Let's hope, he will land in police net soon. -- Kedar Dhakal, chief of the District Police Office, Rautahat
Shortly after the complaint was registered a few weeks ago, the Rautahat District Police Office had assigned Inspector Om Prakash Yadav to investigate into the locals' claim and submit a report. The Yadav-led committee had concluded that the bridge contractor Pappu Construction, and the boatman Pappu Chandrabanshi were responsible for the accident.
Based on the report of the probe committee and the complaints by locals and a former lawmaker, the DAO issued the arrest warrant Tuesday. Police across the country have been placed on high alert to ensure that Rauniyar is arrested. But he is reportedly absconding.
“We have mobilized our entire strength to nab him. Let's hope, he will land in police net soon,” said Kedar Dhakal, the chief of the District Police Office, Rautahat.
