KATHMANDU, July 9: Lalitpur police arrested five individuals on July 4 at a construction site in Talchikhel, along with Rs 5 million in cash and one and half kilograms of gold. Three of those arrested were Indian nationals, while the remaining two were Nepalis.

During the preliminary investigation, police found that they smuggled gold illegally into Nepal. Police also discovered another factory where they used to melt illicit gold.

Police initially arrested Yubraj Bibhute, 28, Bikram Waliyer and Abhishek Bibhute, all residents of Maharashtra, India. Similarly, Sidhantha Chaulagain, 20, of Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur and Yashbanta Sunar of Mahalaxmistan, Lalitpur were also among those arrested.

The Lalitpur police also managed to arrest another Indian national based on the accused’s statements.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Naresh Subedi of the District Police Range Lalitpur, Bijaya Sampat, 21, a resident of Maharashtra was arrested from Tokha Municipality-5, Kathmandu.

SP Subedi claims that the arrested individuals rented flats in various places in Kathmandu and Lalitpur for smuggling gold and melting it. Police raided three flats operated for smuggling gold in Lalitpur and Kathmandu. According to SP Subedi, police raided flats in Talchikhel and Tangal in Lalitpur, as well as Mitra Chowk in Kathmandu.

Police also recovered a gold nugget, gold melting machine, copper wire, white elements, money counting machine, gold purity testing machine and other documents from the three flats. Police recovered Rs 800,000 from other flats apart from Talchikhel.

The six individuals who were arrested have been sent to the Department of Revenue Investigation for further investigation. All of the accused are under the age of 28 years, police added. 

 
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