The border police at Timure, Rasuwa arrested four people and seized some 39 logs of red sandalwood and three others were nabbed from Syaphrubensi-based Hotel Sky in connection with smuggling of the red sandalwood to China.[break]
Four people were held along with the banned red sandalwood loaded in a container (Ba 3 Kha 7158) during the regular check-up.
Madhav Lamichhane, UCPN (Maoist) district secretary is one among the arrestees and others have been identified as container driver Chhatra Tamang of Rammechhap, Birendra Tamang of Dhunche, Rasuwa, Lal Bahadur Tamang and Purna Bahadur Khadka of Sindhupalchwok.
According to sources at Ahidraman Battalion of Nepal Army (NA), Lamichhane was arrested as it was revealed that he was the main culprit behind smuggling of the red sandalwood.
Meanwhile, according to a source at the battalion, central leader of the UCPN (Maoist) have been pressurizing them through phone calls to release Lamichhane. However, a member at the Battalion pledged not to release at any cost despite pressure from the top leadership of the Maoist party as Lamichhane is the prime culprit on the smuggling.
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Four people arrested on red sandalwood smuggling charge
