NEPALGUNJ: Security personnel have launched a search operation in Banke and Bardiya districts after the murder of Indra Bahadur Shrestha, the secretary of Sitapur VDC.

According to the chief of the Bheri Zonal Police office, SSP Jaya Bahadur Chand, Banke DSP Raj Kumar Baidwar is leading a police team in the operation in the area.

The police have beefed up security after they received complaints of donation drive, abduction and murder by different armed outfits in the area.

Stating that the security policy of the two districts earlier was unsuccessful in curbing criminal activities, Chand added, “We changed our security strategy according to a special security plan.” He added that those violating laws would be brought to book.

Banke CDO Birendra Bahadur Baniya said the local administration has started work to bring Shrestha’s murderer to book.

Saying that the administration was concerned about the inconvenience people may have to face due to the police checks, Baniya said, “I urge all the people to assist the security forces in maintaining law and order.’’ He added that the police have intensified search operation in the city and rural areas.

Meanwhile, police today made five persons, arrested by a patrolling team led by DSP Baidwar last evening, public.

The persons were making socket bombs when they were arrested in the Subapuruwa area in Hirminia-3.

According to Banke SP Ramchandra Dhakal, the persons have been identified as Guddu Shah, 23, and Dinesh Sharma of Nepalgunj-17, Sahek Kalam Shesh,18, Rajwab Shahi, 22, and Ram Shah Giri of Bhawaniyapur-8.

The police recovered eight socket bombs, a pistol and some bullets, ropes used in making ‘Sutali’ bomb and some hashish from them.

Dhakal said the arrested men have admitted to using weapons to intimidate people and collect donation.

Meanwhile, staffers of government offices are a frightened lot as they have been receiving threats from different armed groups. The VDC secretaries, who reached the

district headquarters after Shrestha’s murder, said they have been receiving threats from the outfits.

Banke-Bardiya in-charge of the Janatantrik Party Madhes ‘Adarsha’ has warned the secretaries over telephone against protesting Shrestha’s murder.

“Our life has become more insecure,” a visibly scared employee said. “It seems that we have to leave the district headquarters too,” the employee added.

Admitting that he had information of the armed outfits threatening the secretaries and other employees, CDO Baniya said, “We are serious about the security of our employees.”

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission said its attention has been drawn to the increasing threats to people from the armed outfits.

It also claimed that people’s right to live peacefully has been violated. In a press release, Nepalgunj chief of the NHRC Murari Kharel said their attention has also been drawn to Shrestha’s murder.

The Federation of Professionals today submitted a memorandum to the government via the CDO demanding security.