Maoist Leader Prachanda Drives Stolen Vehicle

Police take into control Prachanda’s vehicle
Nepalnews.com, 18-April-2007

Police on Tuesday took a jeep used by the Maoist supremo Prachanda under control after businessman Raju Shrestha claimed that the vehicle belonged to him.

Superintendent of Police, Dhak Bahadur Karki confirmed that police seized the vehicle, adding, “The vehicle is in Kathmandu District Police Office, Hanumandhoka. We will hand it over to the person who comes with legal document.”

The Nissan jeep with plate number Ba 5 Pa 1718 was in the parking area of Hotel Ashoka at Bagbazaar when Shrestha, a resident of Budhanilkantha, claimed that the jeep belonged to him and it was stolen. He then got into it and started the vehicle using the spare key he still retained.

But Maoist cadres surrounded the vehicle before Raju could drive away. As a scuffle ensued between Shrestha and Maoist cadres, police arrived at the scene and seized the vehicle.

Shrestha said the Maoists abducted him and forcefully took away the vehicle including some valuables on October 19, 2006. He also said the real number plate of the vehicle was Ba 5 Cha 1718.

Maoist Central leader Ananta said the Maoists were planning to return the vehicle on Wednesday.

“We told Shrestha to come to the police office with sufficient official documents. We will hand over the jeep to the “actual owner” after an investigation,” SP Karki added.

It is said that the jeep is normally used to ferry top Maoist leaders, including Prachanda.



Police hands over the jeep being used by Maoists to Shrestha
Nepalnews.com, 19-April-2007

After he produced original documents and blue book establishing his ownership of the vehicle, police, on Wednesday, handed over the Nissan jeep to its lawful owner Raju Shrestha.

The jeep was seized by the police on Tuesday after Shrestha tried to take it away from the Maoists claiming that it belonged to him. The Maoists, however, gheraoed him when he tried to take away the vehicle which he saw parked in Bagbazar. Shrestha claimed that the jeep was confiscated by the Maoists when they abducted him in October last year. He said he had approached even the UN demanding that his vehicle be returned.

The Nissan Jeep with plate number Ba 5 Cha 1718 was reportedly being used by top Maoist leaders. When Shrestha found it parked in Bagbazar area, the jeep had a different number plate.

The police checked Shrestha's documents and the engine number of the jeep before handing it over to him