In many cases, the terrified bussinessmen have crossed the border into India to pay the extortionists so that they don´t carry out their threat of bomb attacks on their business or private properties.[break]
“Since the past few months the extortionists have been routinely making phone calls to demand money for their political party and threaten bomb attack if their demands were not fulfilled,” said Amar Khadka, president of federation of industry and commerce, Bardiya. “They even targeted the police on Monday and this has made the businessmen extremely insecure.”
According to him, Madesh Mukti Morcha´ (MMM), among others, have been actively involved in extortion from the business circle. “The businessmen have no choice but obey the criminals,” Khadka said. He further revealed that the criminal outfits demand for as much as Rs 500,000 from a single businessman.
Khadka said that MMM has been terrorizing the business community since long and lately, they are even targeting the police. “A man identifying himself as Ranbir Singh had called a media person from mobile no 98045041769 to inform them about the bomb tageting the police. At times they call directly from India for similar intimidations or threats,” he said.
According to a local businessman they have been forced to listen to the criminals due to lack of security. “They have been extorting the business community for the past 6 months. But the police have not arrested even a single person so far,” he said.
The police however, put the blame on the businessmen. “Instead of informing the police, the businessmen quietly reach out to them to offer cash. In such a situation, it is very difficult for us to track the criminals, SP Ram Kripal Shah said.
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