Kathmandu, 15 June: Five individuals, including three police personnel, have been arrested after it was revealed that they extorted Rs 500,000 by threatening a businessman.
Among those arrested are two assistant sub-inspectors from the Lumbini Province Police Office in Tulsipur and a constable from the Armed Police Force.
According to the police, the other two individuals include a businessman who identified himself as a journalist and another who claimed to be an anti-corruption activist.
According to DSP Laxmi Khanal, chief of the Area Police Office in Kohalpur, Banke, all five individuals were arrested based on a complaint filed by Laxman Kunwar, the operator of Thristar Mobile Shop near the Old Bus Park in Kohalpur Municipality Ward No. 11.
Kunwar filed the complaint at the Kohalpur Area Police Office on Jestha 29 (June 12). In the complaint, he stated that on Jestha 28 (June 11), five individuals came to his shop claiming to be revenue officers and threatened to implicate him in legal trouble unless he paid them Rs 500,000. Fearing consequences, he handed over the amount, as mentioned in his complaint.
Following his report, the same day, police arrested five individuals: Mohammad Shafik Khan and Parmananda Kurmi—assistant sub-inspectors deployed by the Lumbini Province Police for narcotics control, Ram Sundar Chaudhary—a constable from the Armed Police Force, Logobinda Bhandari—a mobile and electronics trader who identified himself as a journalist and is also the chairperson of the Mobile and Electronics Business Association of Banke, and Suryaprasad Rizal—who claims to be a journalist and anti-corruption activist, according to DSP Khanal.
Kunwar also mentioned in his complaint that businessman Logobinda Bhandari personally received the extorted money from him.
According to DSP Khanal of Kohalpur, investigations are ongoing against all five arrested individuals under charges related to unlawful financial gain. The District Court of Banke has granted permission to keep the accused in custody for five days for investigation.
“The statements from the accused will likely begin today,” said DSP Khanal. “We are still searching for a vehicle driver known as ‘Pappu’ who is believed to be involved in the case.”
Although the assistant sub-inspectors involved are officially assigned to the Narcotics Control Bureau, they were currently deployed by the Lumbini Province Police Office in Tulsipur. DIG Rajendra Prasad Bhatt, Chief of Lumbini Province Police, stated that the accused were deployed in plainclothes for drug control operations in Banke and Bardiya districts.
DIG Bhatt further emphasized that anyone misusing their position for personal gain and bringing disrepute to the organization would face strict action.
“Officers who tarnish the reputation of the institution and act out of personal interest will be punished more severely than ordinary accused,” he said. “An investigation is ongoing into the complaint filed by the businessman in Kohalpur alleging threats and extortion. Anyone found guilty will face action.”
Meanwhile, Armed Police constable Ram Sundar Chaudhary has reportedly claimed he was called to the location and falsely implicated, maintaining that he had no involvement in the incident. Chaudhary, too, was deployed in plainclothes from Armed Police Force Battalion No. 30 for narcotics control.
CCTV footage shows that on Jestha 28 (June 11), five individuals arrived at the “Thristar Mobile Shop” near the Old Bus Park in Kohalpur Municipality Ward No. 11 in a car with an Indian number plate (UP 50 AA 98850). The victim, Laxman Kunwar, also provided police with footage showing the individuals threatening him and leaving with the money.
Other local business owners have begun to come forward, stating that these same five individuals have previously used threats and intimidation.
Although Bhandari and Rizal identified themselves as journalists, they are not members of the Federation of Nepali Journalists.
