Pokharel was kidnapped when he was making his way from Dewanganj after repairing a telephone circuit. Bhagat Singh, local in-charge of Samyukta Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha, is responsible for the abduction and has asked for Rs 5 million for Pokharel´s release, according to police. Pokharel´s life is now in danger though the ransom amount has been reduced from Rs 5 million to Rs 3 million.
Pokharel´s wife Anjana has complained through a press conference about the police not supporting efforts to secure her husband´s release. But DIG at the Regional Police Office in Biratnagar Bhisma Prasai said it has been difficult to secure Pokharel´s release because he is in the hands of Indian criminals.
Anjana has informed that she has talked to her husband thrice through an Indian mobile number. “We cannot afford that much money for his release,” says Anjana.
Nepal Telecom has been putting in efforts for his release. Telecom officers have informed that the kidnapper has been given Rs. 1.2 million already. The kidnappers have threatened Pokharel´s family for not paying the full ransom amount.
“I talked to my husband last Friday,” says Anjana, “Though people from the telecom office keep informing that they would bring the money, they have not brought it yet.”
Telecom supervisor Pokharel´s 11-year-old son Rahul and 14-year-old daughter Reshma were present at the press conference with Anjana. According to Anjana, her children are now psychologically traumatized and she´s afraid this would last for a long time. The children have not gone to school since the kidnapping.
According to Insec´s regional office at Biratnagar, five people have been abducted in Sunsari and 52 have been abducted in the Eastern Region since the last six months.
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