Meeting with the ambassador, who arrived in Biratnagar airport en route to Jhapa to participate in a function, NMA representatives requested for Indian assistance to help track Rathi, who remains missing for two weeks allegedly from Siliguri of India while on a business trip. [break]
According to NMA Chair Abinas Bohara, besides requesting Indian help in finding Rathi, the NMA team also discussed various business-related issues with the Indian envoy at the meeting.
“We met with the Indian envoy as we also had some other issues to discuss with him,” Bohara said. He also informed that NMA team also requested Prasad to help in the search for Rathi as the businessman had gone missing in India. NMA was of the opinion that India should also show concern on its own as businessman Rathi is the chairman of Nepal-India Friendship Association.
“There is no clue regarding Rathi´s whereabouts even 10 days after his disappearance,” said Bohara. At the meeting, envoy Prasad assured that Indian government would help search Rathi.
Morang police has already expedited a search for the 69-year-old businessman following suspicion of kidnap. Police suspect that Rathi might have been kidnapped while he was on the way to Siliguri of India on a business trip on January 11.
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar had already stated to seek diplomatic help from India to search for Rathi. The owner of Biratnagar-based Chandra Shiva Rice and Oil Mill, Rathi was elected as the chairman of Morang District Chapter of Nepal Business Union from 2042 BS [1985 AD] to 2045 BS [1988 AD]. Rathi has been in the business of paddy, rice and oil product for a long time.
Family members had kept the abduction of Rathi, who is also present vice-president of the Association of Rice, Pulse and Oil Industries, secret for over a week allegedly to resolve the issue on their own, according to police. Police learnt about the incident only after Rathi´s son Haribansha registered a complaint about the missing father on Sunday.
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