Kidnap protested with indefinite business strike

NEPALGUNJ, June 30: Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) on Tuesday launched a shutdown of business and industry for an indefinite period, demanding the safe release of abducted businessman Gaurav Krishna Rastogi. [break]



Businessmen also submitted a memorandum at the District Administration Office, demanding industrial security. The agitating business community is holding a meeting with the civil society network on Wednesday to intensify pressure for Rastogi´s immediate release.



Rastogi had been operating his businesses at Tribhuwan Chowk in Nepalgunj and also at Rupediya market on the other side of the border. He was abducted from Nepalgunj by an unknown group on June 21.



“We will continue our strike until Rastogi is safely released and the government guarantees the safety of businessmen and industries,” said Damodar Acharya, president of NCCI.



The sudden closure of businesses, meanwhile, took the general public by surprise. Not aware of the strike, people had gone to the market for regular shopping activity, but returned empty-handed.



Acharya stated that the NCCI launched the strike in a bid to pressure the government into taking steps for the safety of businessmen from the rising incidence of abduction and extortion.



Murari Krishna Rastogi, father of the abducted businessman, informed myrepublica.com that his son was not released even after the family paid a ransom amount of Rs 700,000 as the kidnappers had demanded.



No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. Members of Rastogi´s family express horror over his continued abduction even though the kidnappers had promised to release him within four hours of receiving the ransom.



The family had handed over the ransom amount to the kidnappers on Friday night.



Family members said the kidnappers had demanded the ransom over a mobile phone, and hence their identity is still unknown. “Worse, the number from which we got the call has been shut since we handed over the money,” said one family member.



The Rastogi family laments that police have not investigated the case seriously even though they are well aware of the situation. Businessmen also demanded that the police administration end the apathy they have shown over the case.

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