Police bust gang selling citizenships to non-Nepalis

Kathmandu, Mar. 23: Police have arrested a gang of five members involved in selling of Nepali citizenships to non-Nepali citizens, especially to the Tibetans, by forging government documents, seals, and stamps. 

According to the police investigation, the gang members do it by preparing fake recommendation letter using government letter pads, signature and official stamps. 

Based on special tip-off, the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, Minbhawan, busted five members of the group active in Babarmahal area of Kathmandu. 

The Crime Investigation Office Wednesday paraded them on the premises of the Office to make them public by organising a press meet.

Those arrested include 47-year-old Krishna Bahadur Katuwal of Jhapa, 70-year-old Nyulkesh Shrestha of Kathmandu, 49-year-old Hiralal Siwakoti of Morang, 25-year-old Lobsang Thinle of Tanahun and 30-year-old Bijaya Lama of Lalitpur. 

They were arrested and sent to the District Police Range, Kathmandu, Teku for necessary action for crimes related to Citizenship Act and forgery act of government seal and documents, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) and Spokesperson for the Crime Office, Somendra Singh Rathore.

During the search by the special investigation team of the office, on March 19, the gang members were held from different places for issuing genuine Nepali citizenships to illegal Nepali citizens, especially to Tibetan nationals. 

Police, after the search, have also seized educational certificates of various educational institutions, driver’s license, birth certificate, migration certificates, marriage registration certificate, divorce certificates and other important documents, including recommendations of No. 6 ward office, Kathmandu.

It has been revealed that Krishna Bahadur Katwal, who was arrested, has been working as a document technician without obtaining a license and registration for the past 10 years. Katwal has been found to be a person who had been convicted in embezzlement and fraud cases before this as well, said police. 

With the help of Hiralal Siwakoti, Katawal was involved in forging important documents, seals and signatures, including issuance of citizenship of various people, educational certificates of various educational institutions, driver’s license, birth certificate, immigration, marriage registration, divorce, etc.

SP Rathore, speaking at the press meet, said that Katawal was managing various persons as father while presenting father at the Kathmandu District Administration Office (DAO) to issue citizenship to Tibetan citizens. 

According to Rathore, such fake fathers presented in the DAO used to be paid Rs. 10,000 each. 

It has been revealed that arrested Nyulkesh Shrestha has helped non-Nepali Tibetans Sonam Chhoden, Tasi Sherpa, Yashoda Sherpa, Namse Sherpa, among others, to get genuine Nepali citizenships.

According to police investigation, Katawal has himself conceded that he had helped issuing genuine citizenships to over 500 non-Nepali citizens in the last six years.

Within the investigation time alone, the team has been found issuing genuine citizenship to 30 non-Nepali citizens forging government seals and documents of the local wards, said police.

Katawal himself used to charge Rs. 300,000 to Rs. 500,000 for completing one task from one non-Nepali citizen, claimed police. 

Another arrested person, Bijaya Lama, has been working in the canteen of the Kathmandu District Administration Office for the past nine years and used to take command and responsibility of all the works that needed to be arranged from the district administration office, Rathore said. 

According to police, Lama used to collect up to Rs. 150,000 from Katwal for arranging all the necessary works that had to be settled from the DAO. 

It has been found that Lobsang Thinle, who is living in a Tibetan refugee camp, took Nepali citizenship (27-01-79-15901) from the district administration office in Kathmandu on March 14, 2023 under the name of Lobsang Thinle Gurung keeping permanent address of Kathmandu-17. 

SP Rathore claimed that the Crime Office has been conducting necessary investigation on former and current employees at the DAO on suspicion of providing citizenship to non-Nepali Tibetan refugees and other non-Nepalis easily. Police have also seized official seals and signature of local civil registrar, chief administrative officer, as well as seal and letter pads of KMC Ward No. 6.