Dacoit attacks are a very old problem in Southern Jhapa. Robbers frequently hit Nepali villages near the Indian border. The recent attack at Prithvinagar has horrified the locals even more.
"I haven't been able to sleep for the last two nights after the attack," said Rana Maya Karki of Prithvinagar, adding, "Dacoits have been striking everywhere. This time it is our village and we don't know where the next attack will take place."
Like Karki, locals of Prithvinagar and nearby villages are living under the fear of a possible encounter with dacoits.
"The recent attack is just the continuation of the previous attacks. Locals residing in the areas ten kilometers to the south of Jhapa district headquarters are living in a terror for the last 10 years," said another local Lila Pradhan.
He even added that the bandits from across the border stage a massive attack in the area at least once a year.
Such groups are more motivated as police choose not to do anything about the menace. According to the locals, two huge dacoit attacks have already taken place in the last two months.
However, the police have not been able to make any arrests in those cases. The failure of police to nab those involved in robbery has added to the climate of fear among locals.
Four years ago, locals retaliated against a group of dacoits at Pathariya and killed their four members. Later, they were revealed as Indian nationals.
According to the victims, most robbery plans are hatched by Indians as it is easier for them to return to India and hide after carrying out the attacks.
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