Police at border lament lack of manpower to fight crime

Published On: December 15, 2018 05:30 AM NPT By: YUBARAJ BIWAS

DAMAK, Dec 15: Of late, there has been a marked rise in murder, kidnapping and robbery among other crimes along the Nepal-India border in Jhapa district. Taking advantage of the open border, criminals find it convenient to cross over to India after committing crime in Nepal.

Two people have been killed in the border area over the last three months. Both Indian and Nepali criminals were involved in the murders. On September 10, Khemnath Paudel, an entrepreneur from Damak was murdered.

Likewise, on November 2, Alakchan Rajbanshi, 55, of Birgunj-2 was found dead across the border in Kasghari of Indian district Kishanganj.

Reportedly, Paudel was killed when he had gone to collect money from the customers for the goods they purchased on credit. His wife Deepa accompanied him but still the criminals managed to abduct and kill him. His body was found buried on the Indian side 500 meters away from the border. Police hasve arrested one Saddam Hussain on suspicion of committing the murder.

On December 6, a seven-year-old child from India's Bihar state was abducted for ransom. According to Police, Indian criminals along with three Nepali citizens were involved in the incident. Police arrested Badri Yadav who was a candidate in the federal elections from Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) along with Shree Prasad Malha, 31, and Anju Mukhia, 27, of Gauriganj-4 of Jhapa.

Mohammad Saddam, a farmer in Supaul district of Bihar as well as the father of the abducted Maifuj Alam was asked to pay Rs. 1.5 million ransom. Police later found the child in one of the hotels in Damak, Jhapa.

Last Sunday, Area Police Office, Gauriganj arrested an Indian youth on thecharge of trafficking narcotic drugs and an investigation is under way. Police inspector Tekendra Paudel laments that maintaining law and order has been challenging due to limited manpower. "It is not possible for a team of 30 police personnel to control all the crimes. But still we are doing our best," said Inspector Paudel. According to him, drug abuse and trafficking is the biggest problem along the border.