Chitwan traders protest ‘surprise’ raid,Torch DRI jeep‚ demand information before action
CHITWAN:Tension flared up in Narayangadh Bazaar of Chitwan today after local businessmen took to the streets to protest a raid on a local shop, saying the Department of Revenue Investigation ‘did not inform them before carrying out the raid’.
A DRI team from Hariharbhawan, Lalitpur, led by investigating official Bhojraj Subedi and DSP KD Shrestha, today raided and sealed Laxmi Narayan Bastralaya of Sahid Chowk at about 9:00am. And it was business unusual for the Chitwan businessmen, who protesting the raid not only took to the streets but also set a DRI jeep and a police beat on fire. They also took the raiding officials hostage.
Security forces lobbed dozens of tear-gas shells after the demonstrators started pelting stones at police and stopped a fire engine from reaching the burning vehicle.
The irate businessmen managed to break the seal put on the shop by pressuring the team but continued to keep the DRI team hostage till afternoon. Police had to intervene to set the DRI team free. They were later escorted to Bharatpur District Police Office. Chitwan CDO Himnath Dawadi said it took some time to free the officials because his office received the information late.THT
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