Bihar legislator arrested in Nepal

Zakir Anwar, a Lok Janshakti Party MLA from Bihar, has been arrested by the Nepal police in connection with a 10-year-old case of abduction of an Indian-origin Nepali businessman.

Anwar was arrested along with another man identified as Bhola Shankar Tiwari at Kakarbhitta near the Indo-Nepal border on Friday, police said.

Nepal police spokesman Keshav Adhikari said: “We have arrested two Indian nationals. One of them is believed to be an MLA from Bihar.” The duo were handed over to the Morang district police.

He said they were wanted in the 2002 abduction case of Biratnagar-based industrialist Tulasi Ram Aggrawal and other criminal cases. Tulasi Ram was reportedly released by the abductors after payment of Rs 5 crore as ransom.

A case had been registered against the two in Morang district court on the basis of a complaint filed by the victim’s family. Necessary legal actions are being taken in connection with the case, the police spokesman said.

Bihar’s Araria Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar said the lawmaker was arrested in Morang district in Nepal where he had gone in connection with a meeting.

Separately, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Morang district was quoted by “Republica” saying: “The two were arrested in connection with the abduction of industrialist Aggrawal and they were convicted of kidnapping by Morang district court in March 2002. They were in the most wanted criminals list.”

According to police sources, the duo were later taken to Kathmandu jail from the custody of Morang district police.

The Nepal police had earlier arrested notorious gangster Pappu Deo, who had disclosed the names of others involved in the crime. In the recent past, the Nepal police handed over a list of 25 criminals, including Anwar, to the Bihar police.