Villages in Sindupalchowk have almost become like godowns of stolen bike“. "Almost every household in the district has a stolen motorcycle. There are hardly any villages with no stolen motorcycles," a local conceded. [break]
Villages in the western Melamchi region have become hub of these stolen two-wheelers. There are rackets selling bikes stolen from Kathmandu in Melamchi, Bhotenamlang, Thakani, Sindhukot, Palchowk, Thangpalkot, Thangpalthap, Bhotang, Mahankal and Talamarang village development committees (VDC).
Locals claim that the stolen bikes reach Melamchi through the rough routes from Nagarkot and Sankhu with no police presence there.
Police turn blind eye to these stolen bikes operating in the villages. Even government employees and teachers use stolen bikes.
"I have been using this bike for a year having bought it for Rs 8,000. I won´t have any regrets even if it is taken away”now," a government official conceded before going on to claim, "Nobody dares to grab me after I show my government card."
The bikes are sold right under the noses of police. So, there is no way that the trade can go without police connivance.
- Prakash Dahal, a local of Melamchi
- Prakash Dahal, a local of Melamchi
A local youth claimed that there were more than 200 such bikes in Bhotechaur area while more than 50 are in Helambu.
"The bikes are sold right under the noses of police. So, there is no way that the trade can go without police connivance," Prakash Dahal of Melamchi claimed. "These bikes pass through police checkposts but are not stopped. So what more can yo” say?" he asked.
Inspector at Area Police Post, Melamchi refuted any nexus with the racket and pointed at the fact that a traffic police team from Kathmandu returned from the district with around 100 stolen bikes.
Records at District Traffic Police Office show that nine such bikes have been taken under control thi“ year. "We can only nab these bikes from the highway. We don´t have authority to go to the villages looking for these bikes," reasoned sub inspector at the office Ram Prasad Chapagain.
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