The transfer attempt revived after police last Friday arrested Kaushar Ali for illegally collecting money from vehicles by erecting a road barrier at Krishnanagar. The market at Krishnanagar that shut down Saturday following Ali´s arrest is yet to reopen. [break]
Home Minister Bijaya Gachchadhar himself is exerting pressure on police for the release of Ali, according to police source.
There have been many instances in the past when local traders demanded Basnet´s transfer.
On July 19, police seized two truckloads of rice brought illegally from India to Taulihawa by Sarju Jaiswal. Following the seizure, Kapilvastu Chamber of Commerce announced indefinite closure of Taulihawa market demanding Basnet´s transfer.
Hundreds of people involved in illegal activities along the border area and local businessmen shut down the market for three days. The shutdown ended only after Chief District Officer Kamaleshwar Sinha told the businessmen that seizing the trucks was a mistake.
According to a police source, terms between Sinha and SP Basnet soured after Sinha gave in to smugglers´ pressure.
The source said the incident, however, did not deter Basnet, and he did not even complain. He instead instructed juniors to continue to control smuggling and destroy the network of organized crime.
Before this, timber smugglers also did their best to transfer Basnet.
On March 19, police raided Rafiq Lumber Mill operated by timber smugglers at Jhulaniya, Ganeshpur-4, arrested operator Islam Manihar for possessing illegally acquired 350 cubic feet timber worth one million rupees, and handed him over to the District Forest Office.
Thereafter, a network of timber smugglers, that includes Abdul Kalam and Kahir Khan, devoted much energy to transfer Basnet. After they failed, timber smuggling significantly went down, a police officer claimed.
This is not all. On May 26, police seized 477 kilograms of prohibited ayurvedic herb Jatamasi from Gallamandi, Krishnanagar-5. This brought the full ire of the herb´s smugglers on Basnet.
“Crime cannot be controlled until illegal trade along the border is not controlled. We have launched a campaign against it,” said SP Basnet, who admitted that discharging duties honestly in Kapilvastu is challenging.
Basnet, who took charge of the district on January 5 this year, is known for launching tough measures against organized crime and smuggling. He started motorcycle patrolling along the border.
He kept his officers on their toes by launching operations such as Hunt and Infrared Investigation. In his seven months here, Basnet launched 35 operations that resulted in the arrest of 25 absconding wrongdoers, and cadres of half-a-dozen underground outfits, thereby terminating the menace of extortion. Seizure of illegal goods along the border has resulted in 11.8 million rupees in additional customs revenue in the past seven months, according to the District Police Office, Kapilvastu.
“SP Basnet is continuously active to bring rule of law here,” said Nanda Ram Poudel, Insec representative in Kapilvastu.
SSP Prakash Aryal, police chief of Lumbini zone, said police in Kapilvastu has done a great job in controlling crime.
About the current shutdown in Krishnanagar, SP Basnet says, “The local Chamber of Commerce has protested the arrest of someone who was illegally collecting money on the street. The market has been shut down. Political parties are with them.”
Asked if Kapilvastu can be cleaned up, SP Basnet said, “If politics and crime do not shake hands, a lot can be done. We will do our work. You expose criminals and political leaders. Don´t spare erring policemen either.”
He added, “There will be no compromise with criminals.”
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