A clash broke out between traders and police in Janakpurdham’s Sonarpatty area on Friday night following a police raid at a jewelry shop. The incident left the president of the District Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Surendra Bhandari, along with several police personnel injured.
According to reports, the District Police Office Dhanusha conducted a raid at Sanjay Payal Jewelers located in Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City-5 on the eve of Dhanteras. Traders claimed that the police carried out a one-sided operation, which triggered outrage among the business community and led to a tense situation in the main market area for some time.
In a press statement issued on Friday, the Federation alleged that a police team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ganesh Bam forcefully entered the jewelry store, attempted to seize silver ornaments from the safe and counter without legal procedure, and attacked President Bhandari when he objected.
The federation claimed that Bhandari had only requested the police to follow the legal process by preparing an inventory record and providing a receipt before taking any goods, but instead, the police assaulted him with batons and boots. He sustained serious injuries and was taken to Provincial Hospital Janakpurdham for treatment.
The federation condemned the incident and demanded the immediate suspension and legal action against DSP Ganesh Bam, Police Inspector Manoj Kumar Yadav, and other officers involved. The federation further warned of strong protest movements if action is not taken promptly.
Meanwhile, DSP Bam clarified that the police had seized around seven kilograms of silver during the raid and had invited representatives of the Jewelers’ Association to be present during the seizure process. He stated that the clash erupted only after Bhandari arrived at the scene and allegedly attempted to obstruct police duties and behaved aggressively.
To bring the situation under control, police fired seven rounds into the air and used two rounds of tear gas, according to DSP Bam. The federation has also submitted a memorandum regarding the incident to the District Administration Office on Saturday.
About the Author
