CIB to launch crackdown on gangsters

Kathmandu, December 12

The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police has said that it will soon initiate a massive crackdown on criminal gangs thriving on extortion.

The drive comes in the wake of the October 9 murder of Sharad Kumar Gauchan, president of the Federation of Contractors’ Association of Nepal. Samirman Singh Basnet, a Bafal-based gangster and a close aide to Kumar Shrestha, aka Ghainte, who was killed in police action in 2015, masterminded the murder after ‘the victim refused to pay extortion money worth over Rs 170 million’. Basnet was arrested from Chitwan on December 2.

“The extortion racket operated by gangsters have instilled a sense of insecurity among the businesspersons and the public in general. Therefore, we are making necessary preparations to act ruthlessly against the gangsters whoever and wherever they are. The frequent shootings and murders are being perpetrated by such extorters,” said CIB Director Pushkar Karki.

He also warned that the feud between criminal gangs involved in money lending and settling of disputes in the grassroots level had also given rise to insecurity. “Some gangsters are now remote-controlling their henchmen from elsewhere in the country and abroad. We have also launched an investigation to establish their link with a section of mediapersons, lawyers, police and political leaders, among others,” he said, adding police would crackdown on gangsters aggressively.

Earlier, Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu had created a list of 161 hooligans and gangsters with substantial criminal record. Those listed gangsters are under round-the-clock surveillance as they are likely to perpetrate crimes in Kathmandu Valley. Earlier, they had faced legal action for unleashing terror through their direct and indirect involvement in gang fights and extortion.

Officials said security personnel had intensified vigilance against hooligans, both old and emerging ones, to maintain law and order. Earlier, two notorious gangsters — Dinesh Adhikari alias Chari and Ghainte — were killed in encounters with police. Despite the death of two gangsters, police have come to the conclusion that many others are emerging to take their place and expand their stronghold in the Valley.

Some notorious gangsters like Ramesh Bahun and Abhishek Giri are cooling their heels in jail after being convicted of drug smuggling, extortion and kidnapping.