Mahendranagar, June 21 :

Of a dozen customs offices of Chhoti in the Mahakali zone, only three are in government control. The rest have been taken over by the Maoists who are collecting tax in millions.

The government controls Chhoti customs office in Kanchanpur’s Gaddachowki which borders India, Baitadi’s Jhulaghat office and Darchula headquarter Khalanga’s Ghatbazaar office.

Darchula’s Tinkar Chhoti customs office bordering China, Sitapul, Huti, Baluwakot, Joljibi bordering India, Pancheshwor checkpoint of Baitadi’s lower Sworad, Parashuram Ghat in Dadeldhura’s inner Madhesh part, Kanchanpur’s Punarbas and Belaura checkpoint are in Maoists’ hands, with the rebels collecting tax without any problem.

Maoists took over these checkpoints after the government, citing security reasons, stopped sending its employees there.

Earlier, tens of millions of rupees used to be collected by the government in revenue. The Maoists, after deploying armed militias in Darchula’s Tinker checkpoint since the last three years, have already raised nearly Rs 50 million in revenue. They also claim that the revenue collection from other custom checkpoints is satisfactory.

Led by their district leader, the Maoists have now opened their revenue collection offices. A senior Maoist leader in Seti Mahakali region said the people’s militias are mobilized as required for security at those checkpoints.

According to sources, the government has washed its hands of checkpoints that have gone under Maoist control.