FNCCI seeks security for business community

The private sector, condemning the murder of Biratnagar-based entrepreneur Ganga Bishan Rathi, urged the government today to provide security to industrialists immediately.

"The murder of former president of Morang Industries Association Rathi has revealed the serious loopholes in the security situation of the country," the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) said, asking the government to immediately tighten the security situation in the country.

Industries in Biratnagar remained closed today to mourn Rathi's death, who was found murdered three weeks after his kidnap.

The private sector has been terrified by Rathi's murder, which is the result of increasing impunity in the state, the umbrella organisation of the private sector said, adding that the society is heading towards criminalisation due to the government's inefficiency. "The security of industrialists has become more challenging as such incidents have frequently occurred in recent years."

Blaming the increasing criminal activities due to the open border between Nepal and India, the private sector has also asked security agencies of both the countries to jointly control such heinous crimes. "Both, Nepal and India, must jointly fight cross-border crimes."

Earlier, president of Nepal Bankers' Association (NBA) and chief executive of Citizens Bank International Rajan Singh Bhandari was attacked by an unidentified gang at Bhainsepati, in Lalitpur, on January 7.

The government has not yet been able to arrest Bhandari's attackers. After the attack on Bhandari, the government has allowed bankers to keep tear gas for their personal safety, instead of providing them security.

Despite repeated attacks on entrepreneurs, that has discouraged the private sector, government agencies have been unable to stop criminal activities.