Local industrialists and businessmen are so scared of being subjected to extortion that they hesitate to meet strangers or respond to new numbers on their mobiles. At a time when chronic power outage has plunged industrial activity in eastern Nepal into trouble, the rise in extortions has left industrialists and businessmen too terrified to function.
As always, the UCPN(Maoist) is in the forefront of the extortions. “No other party or underground outfit is on par with the Maoists in terms of extorting from businessmen,” Ananta Bishta, manager of JBS Industries, Itahari, says.
Besides the Maoists, regional political parties like the two factions of the Sanghiya Limbuwan Rajya Parishad headed by Kumar Lingden and Sanjuhang Palungwa and the Pallo Kirat Limbuwan Rashtriya Manch have recently launched donation drives. Underground outfits like the Khambuwan Democratic Front, Madhesi Mukti Tigers, Defense Army, Janatantrik Tarai Morcha headed by Ranbir Singh and Madhesi Virus Killers are also active in terrorizing industrialists and businessmen into providing them donations.
According to the industrialists and businessmen, political parties and underground outfits demand at least Rs. 200,000. Renowned industrialists and businessmen are especially prone to extortion. Tanka Dulal, Itahari chapter president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), urges the government to be more serious about providing protection against extortion.
Ganga Bisan Rathi, central vice-president of the Nepal Pulses, Rice and Oil Producers´ Association, says, “The financial condition of industrialists and businessmen will collapse sooner than later if the extortion is not curbed.”
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