Kathmandu, 01 Aug: Police have arrested individuals involved in criminal activities from the Thamel and Maharajgunj areas, including notorious gangster Chakre Milan (Milan Gurung). More than 47 people have been detained in the operation. Chakre Milan was arrested from the Sambhala Hotel in Maharajgunj. He had previously been arrested from the same area on Baisakh 26, 2074 (May 9, 2017), but was later released.
Kathmandu SSP Bishwo Adhikari led the operation throughout Thursday night to crack down on those engaged in gangster activities. AIG Tek Bahadur Tamang of the Valley Police Office told Ratopati that individuals involved in illegal activities in the Maharajgunj and Thamel areas had been taken into custody. “We have detained several people involved in undesirable activities. The exact number is still being confirmed,” he said.
In the early hours of Saun 15 (July 31), at around 3 a.m., police arrested Yuvraj Gurung, also known as Sanubhai, from a dohori venue in Thamel for his involvement in gang-related activities. He was taken into custody after a brawl broke out between his group and another at the Nagarkot Dohori located in Nursing Chowk.
Sanubhai, a 33-year-old originally from Kakani Rural Municipality–5 of Nuwakot and currently residing in Suryadarshan Height, Tokha, is known to be an associate of Kumar Shrestha, alias ‘Ghaite,’ who was killed in a police encounter.
Following complaints about extortion and frequent fights in restaurants and nightclubs, the Valley Crime Investigation Office and Kathmandu Police launched an operation against gang activities on Thursday night. According to police officials, the arrested individuals will undergo screening and further investigation will be carried out.
Police Chased Chakre Group After Vehicle Blocked the Road
Officials from the Valley Crime Investigation Office had been tracking the Chakre group for several days. A few days earlier, police officers had obtained photos and videos showing three vehicles blocking the road in Bhaktapur. After confirming that the vehicles belonged to Chakre Milan’s group, investigators concluded that the group was following its “old patterns” and placed them under surveillance, SSP Ramesh Basnet of the Valley Crime Investigation Office told Ratopati.
“Our conclusion is that blocking the road and moving as if they own it amounts to gangster behavior,” he said.
Based on the conclusion that Chakre Milan and his group had not abandoned their gangster activities or shown any signs of reform, the Valley Crime Investigation Office and the Kathmandu District Police jointly carried out an operation in Maharajgunj on Thursday night. As part of a week-long birthday celebration, Milan had reached the eighth floor of Sambhala Hotel with his group. They were arrested around 1 a.m., according to SP Angur GC of the Valley Crime Investigation Office.
Police recovered two kukris (traditional knives), a folding rod, and pepper spray from the group. One of the arrested individuals, Rahul Khadka, told police that the kukris and rod were carried for self-defense. “We were carrying the kukri for self-protection,” he said.
