Police Shoot Suspected Robbery Gang Leader in Kathmandu

Kathmandu. Police opened fire at 10:25 PM last night in Chunikhel Gamcha, Budhanilkantha-13, Kathmandu. Police claim that they had to shoot Karma Tamang, the leader of a robbery and theft gang, when he attempted to attack with a khukuri during a confrontation. The bullet fired by a team led by an inspector from the District Police Range, Kathmandu, hit 34-year-old Karma in the leg. SSP Dilip Ghimire stated at a press conference on Sunday that after firing two rounds in the air, they had to shoot to apprehend him when he attempted to attack the police and escape. 34-year-old Karma Tamang is a local of Melamchi Municipality-4, Sindhupalchok. While working as a vehicle driver, Karma has recently been on the list of 'notorious robbers'. He has been arrested 10 times from 2079 BS to the present. Karma's group consists of 4 robbers. Police investigation has revealed that they would ask pedestrians on the street, 'Where does this road go?' and then drag them to snatch gold chains and cash. The members of Karma's group include 30-year-old Pratiman Ghola, a resident of Dhulikhel, Kavre, 30-year-old Pasang Ghising, a resident of Panauti Municipality-9, Kavre, and 29-year-old Ale Gurung from Sarangkot, Kaski. Police have also arrested 36-year-old Manoj Tamang, a gold shop owner who used to buy the gold jewelry looted by the accused. Manoj, originally from Bhuml, Kavre, operates a gold shop in Banepa. Police investigation concludes that the accused have been involved in 5 robbery incidents from 2083 BS to the present. SSP Dilip Ghimire of Kathmandu informed that Karma's group has spread terror through robberies from Banepa in Kavre to Kathmandu. He said, 'This group appears to have committed robberies in Kavre and Kathmandu.' They were found to have looted gold chains in Dhapasi on Asar 7, in Narephat and Banepa, Kavre on Asar 15, and two incidents in Shantinagar, Kathmandu on Asar 13 of this year. Karma's group includes motorcycle riders and enforcers. SSP Ghimire stated that Pratiman Ghola worked as the rider in all the robberies. Ghola, who was serving a sentence in Nakhkhu Jail for robbery and theft, had escaped during the Jenji movement. He was subsequently arrested and sent to jail by the Area Police Office, Banepa. After being released from jail, he was found to have returned to the robbery business. Ale Gurung played the role of using force if the public obstructed or argued during the robbery. 29-year-old Ale, who resides in Boudha, used to ride motorcycles to use force and would wait standby around the scene of the crime. SSP Ghimire stated that the main leader Karma had escaped from the Swayambhu police custody during the Jenji movement on Bhadra 24, 2082 BS. The accused used to go out to rob on motorcycles.