APF vehicle attacked as smuggled goods seized in Rupandehi

Butwal, November 8 — During a crackdown on goods suspected of being smuggled from the border area of Rupandehi, stones were thrown at a security vehicle as it was returning.

The incident occurred on Thursday evening at Mujhan, Ward No. 2, Lumbini Saanskritik Municipality, where an Armed Police Force (APF) vehicle was targeted.

According to reports, 32-year-old Dilip Lodh’s house in the area was searched, and 112 sacks of sugar, suspected to be smuggled goods, were seized. While returning with the goods, a group of around 150-200 locals blocked the road, causing the confrontation.

Rupandehi’s Chief District Officer, Basudev Ghimire, told Ratopati that although the locals attempted to obstruct the operation, security forces managed to reach the site and seize the smuggled goods. He added that the goods were handed over to the Revenue Investigation Office in Butwal for further investigation and action.

No one has been arrested for the obstruction, and it was reported that the stone-throwing incident caused significant damage to the APF vehicle, with two windows on the right side of the vehicle, bearing the registration number NA 1 Jha 1477, being completely shattered.

Additionally, APF Inspector Kashi Prasad Chaudhary and Constable Chandra Pandey sustained minor injuries to their right hands during the incident.