Nepalgunj, November 16:

A group of contractors today blamed rivals for mobilising youths to stop it from procuring tender documents. They also alleged nexus between the police and their rivals. The group said the youths had barred it from applying for tender to supply ration for the Armed Police Force Training Centre, Naubasta and Bheri Zonal Police Office.

“Youths, who had gathered in front of the APF training centre, barred us from procuring tender documents.”

“Arm-wielding youths manhandled two bidders and tore their documents apart,” according to eyewitnesses. The police arrested the miscreants, but freed them later, bowing to pressure from their handlers.

“The youths manhandled us and tore our documents,” a contractor said on condition of anonymity. “The contractors had bought 23 forms from the APF training centre, but only three were registered.”

However, SSP Rajendra Bahadur Singh, said all forms that came through proper channel had been registered. “Since we got three forms for the tender, we registered them,” he said. However, the disgruntled contractors said the tender was opened at 6 pm instead of 3 pm. The entrepreneurs have also blamed some YCL and Youth Force cadres of preventing them from procuring tender documents.

Meanwhile, entrepreneurs said the process of registering tender in the Zonal Police Office left much to be desired.

They said only five contractors were allowed to register the tender. However, DIG Man Bahadur Khadka claimed that bidding for tender at the zonal police office was free and fair.