Bhagawan Badal, a veterinary doctor and owner of agrovet store at Nijgadh, was kidnapped by an unidentified group while he had gone to Simri in neighboring Rauthat district for the treatment of some livestock.[break]
Badal´s kin and the locals disrupted the highway on Saturday after the kidnappers did not release him even after receiving a ransom of Rs 1 million on Wednesday evening.
The agitators agreed to call off their strike after the Narayani Zonal Police Chief, Senior Superintendent of Police, Sarbendra Khanal, promised in written that the police will trace Badal within 11 days.
The police have already arrested some suspects, including one Bindu Choudhari, who had taken Badal to Simri in the pretext of livestock treatment.
Meanwhile, the agitators have announced phase-wise protest programs, demanding better law and order situation in the tiny town on the highway, besides speedy investigation into Badal´s kidnapping.
Mukunda Neupane, chair of the agitating Peace and Security Concern Committee, said that the police have not done enough to secure Badal´s release.
Neupane also said that the locals will be forced to take to the street shutting down all the schools, transportation and businesses to press the district administration to improve the degrading security situation in the area.
He further informed that a team of civil society leaders, businessmen and the locals have started a search for Badal in the forest area from where he was reportedly abducted.
As per the kidnappers´ demand, Badal´s family had dropped the bag carrying the ransom across a Rapti River bridge on the road leading to Bhairab Tar.
However, the kidnappers cleverly made away with the ransom, but did not release Badal. According to Badal´s wife, Rita, they had managed the ransom amount by taking loans.
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