BIRGUNJ, June 15: Cadres of Samyukta Tarai Mukti Morcha (SJTMM), an armed outfit operating in the Tarai, have allegedly threatened to kill Chief District Officer (CDO) of Parsa, Durga Prasad Bhandari. [break]
"They have issued death threats against me under various pretexts," Bhandari told myrepublica.com. Police are trying to trace the callers.
Earlier Bhandari received such threats on his cell phone, but after he rejected the phone calls, they started calling him on his office phone, according to Bhandari. The callers use Indian SIM cards and speak in Hindi.
"Lately, they have strongly warned they will blow up my vehicle," he said. Dozens of armed outfits are involved in extortion, abduction and murder of commoners in the Tarai.
"They have started calling at my office number for the last three days and have threatened to kill me."
The group claims that it was behind the murder of section officer Mohan Mainali of the same office a year ago. "I have been warned that I will have the same fate," said Bhandari, "But I am not afraid."
Bhandari said the political transition has boosted the confidence of the armed groups. "The state should make clear its position on armed groups," he said, "It is necessary to distinguish whether they are political or criminal groups," Bhandari said talking to myrepublica.com.
He alleged that political interference has encouraged criminals. "We face political pressure to release criminals," he said, "This has made the job of maintaining law and order difficult."
Matrika´s men threaten to kill three
Meanwhile, our correspondent from Biratnagar Ajit Tiwari said activists of the Matrika Yadav´s Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on Monday issued death threat against three persons, including a police inspector, accusing them of setting fire on a squatter settlement at Amardaha VDC in Morang.
The accused are inspector Rajesh Thapa, and local residents Shyam Siwakoti and Bishnu Dulal.
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