KATHMANDU, April 30: With Lok Sabha elections underway in India, criminals who have committed offenses in Nepal and sought refuge across the border in India are returning to Nepal for shelter. However, upon their return, they are being apprehended by the Nepali authorities.
Among those arrested is a prominent Indian citizen accused of involvement in the murder of Lal Mohammad. Identified as Bablu Paswan, he was apprehended a year and a half after Mohammad's murder.
Due to the ongoing elections in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, individuals engaged in criminal activities have become more vulnerable. Many of them have been detained upon entering Nepal for shelter.
Before Paswan's arrest, the Rautahat police had arrested notorious criminal Sheikh Nurullah, who was on the most wanted list. He is the main accused in the famous priest murder case and an elderly murder case. He is also a former ward president of Dewahi Gonahi Municipality-1, India. His arrest took place just a week ago.
Paswan, known for his criminal activities in both India and Nepal, was shot and apprehended on Sunday night. Parsa police, upon learning of his entry into Nepal, intensified surveillance efforts. “When Paswan encountered the police on Sunday night, he attempted to flee, resulting in police firing shots to subdue him,” said Superintendent of Police (SP) Kumud Dhungel of the Parsa District Police Office.
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SP Dhungel, who was active in controlling gang violence in Kathmandu, was actively searching for Bablu Paswan since he was transferred to Parsa. Following Paswan's arrest, it was revealed in the investigation that he was the mastermind behind the abduction of Suresh Kedia of Mahagadhimai Municipality-1, Bara, on May 26, 2016. He was also implicated in the murder of Lal Mohammad in Gothatar, Kathmandu, on September 19, 2022. Furthermore, he was accused of carrying out abductions in the districts of the Terai region while residing in India, engaging in the trade of small arms and narcotics, providing protection to Nepali criminals in India, and extorting money from industrialists and businessmen, as well as issuing death threats.
Earlier, the then Inspector General of Nepal Police (IGP) Dhiraj Pratap Singh, had called his Indian counterpart and requested him to arrest and hand Paswan over to Nepal. But there was no cooperation from the Indian authorities.
The Intelligence Bureau (IB) of India also showed interest in the investigation of the murder of Lal Mohammad. The plan to arrest Paswan was stopped because the IB, active in the investigation of Indian counterfeit notes and the investigation of terrorist groups, also showed interest in the investigation of the Mohammad murder case. But he was arrested by Parsa police when he came to Nepal.
Although it was revealed that Paswan from India was the main planner of Mohammad's murder, it is said that the main reason why the Nepal Police could not arrest him was the interest of the IB and the non-cooperation of the Indian police.
At that time, it was discovered in the police investigation that Bablu was the main planner of the murder of Mohammad of Raxaul, Bihar. "After the IB showed undue interest in the investigation of the Lal Mohammad murder case, the then Inspector General of Nepal Police Singh had asked them not to interfere in the matter," the source said.
Paswan, 45, of East Champaran, Raxaul, of Bihar, India tried to escape during a police check in Bhutandevi, Birgunj Metropolitan City-16 on Sunday night. But his escape was unsuccessful. Police said that weapons and drugs were confiscated from him, including a pistol labeled "Made in USA," two rounds of bullets, 49 grams of brown sugar, and 880 grams of marijuana.
Paswan was injured when the police deputed from Parsa tried to stop the motorcycle number BR 05 AL 6139 coming from India towards Birgunj Bazar. He was taken to Narayani Hospital, Birgunj for immediate treatment and was discharged after treatment and kept in police custody.
A committee was formed under the coordination of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Janak Bhattarai, head of the then Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, to investigate the Mohammad murder case. The committee submitted the charge sheet to the District Government Attorney Office on November 18, 2022 and revealed the plan and involvement of Bablu Paswan in the crime.
Nepal Police started an investigation into Paswan's possible involvement in uranium trafficking, Indian counterfeit currency circulation, and connections to a terrorist network possibly supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
