RAUTAHAT: Rampant donation drive by armed outfits has hit the businessmen and industrialists in Rautahat district. Many entrepreneurs have been compelled to call off their ventures.

Deteriorating security situation is helping the presence of armed outfits Tarai Army, Tarai Cobra and Madhesi Mukti Sangram. The people in the Tarai district got some respite when factions of the Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha and Tarai Army surrendered to security forces five months ago.

According to the businessmen, the outfits had been demanding huge sums over the phone on a daily basis.Bikas Gupta said he was in a dilemma whether to run his business or shut it down. “If forced donations are not checked, the only option for us will be to quit business for good,” he said.

Dev Prayag Gupta, chairman, Rautahat Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said all the businessmen would shut shop if the administration did not control the donation terror. He said the businessmen dreaded answering calls made from an unidentified number.

Meanwhile, APF SP Mahesh Shrestha said the security body would soon launch an offensive against the outfits. Addressing a function in Gaur today, he directed all the APF base camps to book the guilty to ensure people’s security.