ITAHARI: Activists of the Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee have intensified donation drive in Sunsari's Duhabi-Inaruwa section. The activists have been mobilised in different parts of the section and are extorting donation from all kinds of vehicles.

Locals said that some vehicles have averted the route due to the donation terror. Simariya village unit committee of the struggle committee has been collecting the donations. The activists maintained that they were collecting donations for their assembly scheduled for January 29. However, the local administration has remained a mere spectator.

According to a driver, people have to face threats or cough up donation. "Entrepreneurs have been forced to give whatever amount they ask for as the local administration has remained mute," another victim said.

The activists have been collecting donation ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 1, 000 from each vehicle.

Meanwhile, one of the activists on condition of anonymity said that he was collecting donation as per the direction of the committee leaders. He conceded that they have been taking donation by threatening the people. "We are merely following the orders of the committee. We don't know more than this," he said.

However, Bhadraman Mote, Police Inspector at the Area Police Office, Duhabi, expressed ignorance about the donation drive.

However, in a bid to retaliate against the donation drive of various political organisations, clubs and groups, Itahari entrepreneurs today formed a 15-member struggle committee led by JK Subba.

Saying that the donation terror has put their business on the brink of collapse, Subba said that the activities of fleecing money from entrepreneurs would be discouraged.

According to him, the struggle committee would collaborate with the Chamber of Commerce and Industries, security agencies, different political parties, civil society, journalists and intellectuals to discourage the donation terror rife in Itahari and adjoining areas.

Time and on, entrepreneurs have been complaining that they have been asked donations by different clubs, political parties, their sister organisations and various groups.

The Area Police Office Itahari arrested nine activists of the Khambuwan Democratic Front. The activists were asking huge sums of donation from entrepreneurs in Itahari and its surrounding areas.

Following the arrest, an all party meeting was held at the Area Police Office Itahari today. Participants at the meeting agreed to discourage donations. Dhan Bahadur Khambu, central member of the front, claimed that his party had not collected donation forcefully. "We requested for donation for our central general assembly.

We would take action if activists are found taking donation forcefully," he said. The arrested were released later on condition that they would not repeat similar activities in future, Police Inspector at the APO, Itahari, said.