19-25 September 2014 #725

Ulterior motives

Ratopati.com, 14 September

BIRATNAGAR: Security sources claim CK Raut was readying for secession under the ‘Independent Madhes Alliance’ organisation. After he was arrested on Saturday in Morang while speaking to Santhals about a separate country, it has been revealed that Raut had a network of activists across eastern Nepal planning a separatist revolt.

According to the source, Raut had planned to create 10 units per VDC and 15 leaders per unit who would then campaign for a separate country. Documents confiscated from Raut, including a book called Madhes Swaraj (Madhes Self-rule), reveal he was working to ‘free the Madhes from Nepali occupation’. There is a detailed explanation of what they would have to do for separation and how the proposed new country would function.

Security sources claim Raut also received help from Jwala Singh and Goit, and that Madhesi leaders who campaigned for ‘Ek Madhes, Ek Pradesh’ (Single Madhes state) also support him indirectly.

Some local leaders have already tried to pressure the district administration and police into releasing Raut. In Biratnagar, some youngsters protested on the street on their behalf.  Morang CDO Ganesh Raj Karki ordered the police keep him in custody for six more days while investigations were ongoing.