The blasts have rocked the region at a time when political parties there long to foment unrest to influence national politics. Analysts say the resurgence of violence calculated to cause immense loss is directly linked to chaos in national politics. [break]
“They seem to be cashing in on the volatility of the situation,” said Bijaya Mishra, a Biratnagar-based researcher who studies armed conflict in the Terai.
Violence could grow, given indications that Terai-based parties are out to agitate for their new-found agenda of fresh elections to the Constituent Assembly. “Their sole purpose, however, is financial gain”, Mishra said.
In the wake of their India visits, Madheshi leaders are reported to have met the leaders of certain major armed group in Indian territory.
Chairman of Madhesi People"s Rights Forum (MPRF) Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, however, flatly denied reports about such meetings when approached by reporters in Biratnagar, Monday. Analysts say political connivance could not be ruled out as there have been numerous cases of nexus between political parties and such groups.
The successive blasts in Rautahat, Nepalgunj and Butwal from Friday to Sunday have brought three different groups, two of them unheard of before, into the picture of resurgent terror.
The blast in Butwal has been linked by police to the Tarai Madhesh Mukti Party (Bhagat Singh) while Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morch and Tarai Madhesh Mukti Morcha (Abinash Singh), both never heard of before, have taken responsibility for the blasts in Nepalgunj and Rautahat respectively.
Officials said all three groups are trying to spread terror for financial gain and their intentions will become clear when they start using terror for extortion, kidnappings and other crime.
The Bhagat Singh group surfaced with the blast killing one passenger and injuring 27 a fortnight after Rupandehi police killed its district in-charge Bhawani Singh and his aide in an encounter. The blast was seemingly an act of vengeance but officials said the group has been escalating violence to spread terror and extort from people.
Bhagat Singh was a central member of Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morch (Jwala Singh), the most powerful criminal group at present. He parted ways with the party following a financial dispute and formed his own group. He is said to have based himself in western Nepal even as many groups came forward for dialogue with the government.
SP Sher Bahadur KC, the Rupandehi police chief, said Bhagat Singh is a most-wanted criminal who has been working with some other absconding criminals.
Focus shifts west
As the government came down hard on armed groups in the eastern and central regions over the last few years, armed groups started shifting to the western Terai. Jwala"s group was reported to have made headway in the western districts. Bhagat Singh followed suit.
“The western districts have been fertile ground for them,” Mishra said.
Along with Jwala and Bhagat, the Rajan Mukti group and a few criminals still claiming affiliation to the Goit group have been found to be influential in the region lately.
“Despite the focus in the western Terai, criminals could trigger activities in the central and eastern Terai, given indications of unrest in those regions,” analysts said, referring to an attempted explosion in Biratnagar on Tuesday.
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