Key Takeaways:

• Home Minister met loan shark victims during their Justice March
• Protesters demanded legal action, restitution, and long-term solutions
• No official agreement announced, but talks seen as positive step

BARA, JULY 14 Home Minister Sudan Gurung met victims of illegal loan sharking (meter byaj) in Nijgadh on Tuesday as they continued their march from Janakpur to Kathmandu demanding justice and government intervention. The minister travelled to Nijgadh to hold direct talks with the protesters, who had temporarily halted their 'Justice March' after being informed of his visit. The meeting was held at the Nijgadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry hall, where the victims presented their grievances and reiterated their demands for legal action against loan sharks, restitution of seized property and long-term measures to address the problem.

According to Manoj Paswan, a leader of the Meter Loan Victims' Struggle Committee, discussions focused on addressing the protesters' demands, ongoing legal procedures and possible long-term solutions in a cordial atmosphere. The victims expressed hope that the direct dialogue with the Home Minister would lead to concrete decisions and practical measures to ensure justice for those affected by predatory lending practices. The minister's decision to meet the protesters during their march has been viewed as a sign of the government's willingness to engage with the issue. However, no official agreement or outcome of the talks had been made public by the time of filing this report.