Chand informed that the horn was found wrapped in clothes inside an old bag which was hidden in a steel closet. Chaisir has been in the hotel business for a long time in Khalanga. Thagunna, a soldier who is posted at Bhairahawa, is a relative of Chaisir. When and why Thagunna came to Khalanga is still unclear, said Chand.
“We have never caught rhino horn smugglers in Darchula before,” said Chand. “We found the horn after an eight-month long search.” The horn weighs 525 grams. The two are being held for interrogation, after which they will be handed over to the police, said Chand.According to Chaisir, he found the horn seven months ago in Dhangadhi at a hotel. “A contractor spent the night and left his bag.” Chand and his team are feeling insecure after the incident. “People are threatening to kill us,” said Chand, adding, “With smuggling on the rise we risk our lives at work.” He claimed that the smugglers were getting political protection.
In February 2008, Chand had caught two smugglers with a rhino horn in Kanchanpur. However, Kanchanpur Police Superintendent Madhav Nepal had also arrested Chand. He was later released in the presence of Kanchanpur forest officer Suryakanta Sigdel. SP Nepal was suspected of being involved in the smuggling and was criticized for arresting Chand.
Man Bahadur Kunwar from Pipalchauri, Darchula and Rabindra Adi from Pipalkot, Bajhang were nabbed at Rajdhani Guest House in Mahendranagar bus stop seven months back. The two men were Maoists.
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