KATHMANDU, Nov 9: The Koshi Province chapter of the ruling CPN-UML has suspended former Minister for Internal Affairs and Law of Koshi Province Lila Ballabh Adhikari on Saturday following reports of his illegal visit to Japan and alleged involvement in human trafficking.
The provincial chapter suspended him for further investigation into his foreign visit without the party’s permission. Former Minister Adhikari resigned from the post on Wednesday amid growing criticism and pressure from the province government and the party. While submitting his resignation to Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki, Adhikari said that he had taken serious note of the questions raised about his visit and resigned on ethical grounds
Adhikari had visited Japan during the Tihar holidays. The visit courted controversy after it was revealed that he had undertaken the visit without permission from the provincial cabinet or the federal government.
Former minister Adhikari is accused of abusing his position and trying to smuggle three individuals to Japan. The incident came to light after the Japanese immigration deported Dawa Sherpa and Janak Rai of Khotang, and Kanchan Devkota of Rasuwa, who had traveled to Japan with the minister. The three were kept in police custody after being deported to Nepal.
Human trafficking through Pashupatinagar on the rise
Based on the statements of those arrested, it was found that the erstwhile minister tried to take the three individuals to Japan by giving them identity cards from the ministry. It has been revealed that the fake cards they carried bore the signature of the former minister as acting head of the concerned ministerial offices.
On the basis of the statements of the three deportees, the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office has arrested three more people on charges of human trafficking. Among those arrested are Jugal Rijal, Bir Bahadur Sunuwar, and Mahesh Pandey. Based on the evidence recovered in the incident, the police officials suspect that the minister had planned the scheme for financial gain.
The provincial chapter of the ruling UML took the allegations against the former minister seriously and has decided that his actions were against the disciplinary standards of the party.
The party suspended Adhikari and demanded a thorough investigation of the incident and appealed for strict action against all those involved.
UML has also demanded that the government should take necessary steps so that such illegal acts are not repeated in the future.
This action of the minister has led to sharp criticism from within and outside the party. The provincial leadership of the party has expressed serious displeasure saying that the visit was against the party’s policy and his action defamed the UML.
