• THT 10 years ago
CHITWAN, JUNE 6
Tension flared up in Narayangadh Bazaar of Chitwan today after local businessmen took to the streets to protest a raid on a local shop, saying the Department of Revenue Investigation 'did not inform them before carrying out the raid'.
A DRI team from Hariharbhawan, Lalitpur, led by investigating official Bhojraj Subedi and DSP KD Shrestha, today raided and sealed Laxmi Narayan Vastralaya of Shahid Chowk at about 9:00am. And it was business unusual for the Chitwan businessmen, who to protest the raid not only took to the streets but also set a DRI jeep and a police beat at Shahid Chowk on fire.
They also took the raiding officials hostage. Police had to intervene to set the DRI team free. They were later escorted to Bharatpur District Police Office.
Security forces lobbed dozens of tear-gas shells after the demonstrators ran amok and started pelting stones at police and stopped a fire engine from reaching the burning vehicle.
Meanwhile, the Department of Revenue Investigation, which has the authority to invite and mobilise officials from any organisation, on Wednesday said it would initiate action against businessmen involved in revenue leakages only after consulting traders and the private sector.
At a press meet organised in the Capital to inform about the incident in Chitwan, DRI DG Janmajay Regmi said a DRI flying squad had reached Narayangadh and was trapped by businessmen. "This is a serious issue.
The DRI will initiate action against businessmen after consulting the FNCCI.
A version of this article appears in the print on June 7, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
