SINDHUPALCHOWK: More than 60 fully-loaded Nepali containers have been stranded in Khasa, as Chinese businessmen are not letting them enter Nepal, claiming that their money robbed in Nepal was yet to be recovered.

According to Sangdorje Sherpa, chairman of the Truck Container Entrepreneurs Union, the Chinese businessmen had been blocking the containers since Thursday, saying $ 3 lakhs robbed in Swoyambhu on October 17 were not yet recovered. According to Nepali entrepreneurs, the Chinese administration is also involved in barring the containers from entering Nepal.

According to sources, the containers were obstructed, as the Chinese suspect that the Nepali entrepreneurs were involved in the robbery.

An employee of the Immigration Office said the Chinese businessmen whose money was robbed were also involved in obstructing the containers.

Nepali entrepreneurs have accused the Chinese Department of Foreign Affairs of working against diplomatic protocol by not taking any initiative to clear the containers.

Durgadatta Dhakal, an officer in the Nepali Immigration Office, said their efforts to release the containers had failed.

Nepali team, including Dhakal, that had gone to Khasa this morning to resolve the row through talks had to return empty-handed, as the Chinese Department of Foreign Affairs did not yield to its request. Dhakal told THT over phone: “When we urged a Chinese officer, Shilu, to release the containers, he said they would take a decision only after discussing the matter with the other government offices and the victims. He said since the businessman were robbed of a huge amount, they would not release the containers without taking up the matter with the victims.”

According to Dhakal, it is not possible to bring those containers under control without filing a case as per the Chinese law. Dhakal said the containers would most probably be released by Sunday.

He said the Nepali entrepreneurs had not informed the Immigration Office about the issue and he took the initiative after he was informed by Assistant CDO.

Nepali businessmen alleged that their Chinese counterparts frequently created trouble for them on one pretext or the other. Rajendra Kumar Shrestha, chairman of Sindhupalchok Chamber of Commerce and Trade, said the Chinese businessmen often played up minor issues to foment trouble.

In mid October, a private car was robbed in Swoyambhu, as the Chinese businessmen were preparing to take the amount to China after converting Nepal currency into US dollars. According to the police, the money belonged to 19 persons, including Sonam Lama, Lotak Lama, Chhutam Lama and Dougar Lama.

The case is being investigated by a team led by Rajendra Singh Bhandari of Police Headquarters after Kalyan Kumar Timsina, the then commissioner of Metropolitan Police, who was involved in the investigation previously, was accused of not carrying out the work properly. The police added that two policemen deputed in Swoyambhu were arrested on the suspicion of being involved in the incident.