Damauli, July 14

Prakash Thapa, 35, from Gagangauda, Kaski, and operator of Damauli Credit and Cooperatives of Byas Municipality-2,Tanahun, has been out of contact for the past three days, leading to fear that he might have absconded with the depositors’ money.

Worried depositors are now frequenting the Cooperatives Division Office, District Administration and District Police Office. It has also been learnt that Thapa was the sole operator of the cooperatives though he had furnished the documents of 25 persons while registering the business.

While the cooperatives is closed now, even staff members have denied giving any information about the whereabouts of the operator and the reason for the closure of the cooperatives.

“As many as 264 persons have submitted an application with their signatures fearing that they might have been defrauded,” said information officer at Division Cooperatives Office Rammani Dhungana, adding, “We are committed to investigating the matter.”

Information Officer at District Police Office DSP Surendra Gurung said his office was doing the needful.

“We’ve detained a woman for interrogation,” said the police source, while Chief District Officer Ritesh Kumar Shakya also said he would act on the application filed by the worried depositors. “We’re searching for him and urge people to report us about him,” he said.

Thapa couldn’t be contacted as his mobile phone is switched off. The cooperatives, set up about six years ago, is said to have collected Rs 40 to 50 million from depositors so far.