KATHMANDU/SARLAHI/ SAPTARI, AUGUST 24
Complaints against usury have increased after the government urged the victims of loan sharks to register their complaints.
Till date, 114 cases of usury have been registered in Sarlahi District Administration Office.
The 114 victims registered their complaints against the exploiters, informed Chief District Officer of Saptari Janardan Gautam. The incumbent government had formed a taskforce to take action against usury racketeers and to end the illegal practice.
The Ministry of Home Affairs directed local administrations to receive complaints from victims (with many evidences) from August 13, noting that loan sharks had allegedly exploited the illiterate and financially weaker section.
Taskforce coordinator Bhisma Kumar Bhusal said the government had issued a public notice taking into account the widespread cases of usury across the country and the victims not being able to take legal recourse or make their agony public as usury is illegal.
Meanwhile, usury complaint has been registered against vice-chairperson of Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality Phulkumari Sah, as well. Sunitadevi Mandal of Ward No 6 of the same rural municipality demanded action against Sah, who, according to Mandal, has not returned her land although she returned her loan of Rs 40,000 with interest.
Chief District Officer Gautam said that preparations are on to lodging cases against the loan sharks through the District Police Office by coordinating with the District Government Attorney Office on the basis of evidence.
Stating that the Ministry of Home Affairs has been informed about the complaints received so far, CDO Gautam informed that the District Police Office and the Administration Office were also looking into the matter.
According to Gautam, some of those who have lodged complaints against usurious lenders have done so along with evidence while some have simply filed first information report.
Complaints have also been registered against loan sharks with Banke District Administration Office.
As many as 15 victims had registered complaints against usurers as of August 21 according to officer at Banke DAO, Ram Kumar Sonkar. "Acting on the complaints, we called the concerned sides and held discussion," he said. "They had invested less than the amount stipulated on paper.
The exaggerated amount ranges from one million to two million rupees while the invested amount was much lower as per the complaints lodged with the DAO.
Sonkar further said complaints against loan-sharking were still coming in. In this connection, a letter was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs informing about the issue, he added.
Some victims had even registered writ petitions at the courts against loan sharks. The Ministry of Home Affairs had directed local administrations to receive complaints from victims noting the loan sharks had allegedly exploited the illiterate and financially weak people.
Meanwhile, 427 cases of usury have been filed with Sarlahi District Administration Office after the government's call.
According to Chief District Officer of Sarlahi, Thaneshwor Gautam, although the complaints were supposed to be submitted till August 21, they have continued to come in till date. Complaints registered after August 21 were recorded separately, informed CDO Gautam. The victims had recently demonstrated in district headquarters Malangwa as well.
Most of them registered complaints against alleged loan sharks Shyam Krishna Shah, Rambabu Raya, Sanjaya Shah Rauniar, Indal Raya, Ramswarup Raya and Ramchandra Raya among others, Sarlahi DAO said.
The alleged loan sharks, except Sanjay, are on the run, while Sanjay is in police custody where he is being investigated, said SP Prabin Pokharel.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 25, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
