Normal business at Tatopani checkpoint affected

Demanding security along the highway, entrepreneurs, transport businessmen and workers have brought all business and financial transaction at the Tatopani checkpoint to a complete halt from Sunday.

Saying that although security along the Araniko Highway, which serves as the main gateway for Nepal-China trade, has greatly deteriorated, the local administration has paid no heed towards it, entrepreneurs and transport workers stopped all financial activities and business dealings in Tatopani. Normal business at the Tatopani Custom Office was also affected after businessmen and laborers jointly announced the closure of the checkpoint.

The security situation in the Highway has deteriorated to a great extent with the rise of illegal smuggling of red sandalwood in the last 6 months. Saying that everyday they confront unidentified persons or groups in the highway who intimidate and beat them, along with groups calling themselves members of the Young Communist League causing all sorts of trouble by inspecting the containers on various pretexts, the businessmen and workers warned that if the government doesn’t guarantee security in the highway, they would wage a movement. nepalnews.com ag Aug 13 07