Maoist govt boon for smugglers BY MOHAN BUDHAAIR DHANGADHI, Dec 27 - The self-proclaimed "new regime" of the Maoists at the local level has become a boon for vehicle smugglers here in Kailali. As a result, smuggling of new vehicles into Nepal from India by evading tax to the government, has skyrocketed in recent times after Maoists started issuing registration number plates of their "people's government" to such vehicles. According to sources, the open border of Kailali district has been used to smuggle jeeps, cars, vans and motorcycles from India, which are subsequently supplied to Birgunj, Pokhara and other cities across the country. "For the purpose, such black marketers contact local smugglers who have close ties with the Maoists and bring in such vehicles," said a source. "With the registration plate of the people's government, the vehicles reach the desired destinations without being stopped anywhere, and are later used after such number plates are replaced with Nepal Government number plates." There are around 200 motorcycles, 10 tractors, three vans, one jeep and a car in the district, which can be seen plying with Maoist number plates. "I brought in a Mahendra Jeep a few days ago as per the rule of the new regime," said Shiva Kumar Ghimire, a businessman of Mashuriya. He is now using the jeep which bears the registration number plate issued by the Maoist government. Maoists have been able to accumulate hefty sums by collecting money in "tax and customs charges" at the time of issuing number plates. The source claimed that they (Maoists) might have collected over 100 million rupees so far. When contacted, the Maoist chief of their district government, Laxman Chaudhary aka "Roshan", said that such registration process was begun after their regime was established. "We have been providing number plates to such vehicles which pay customs duty to us, regardless of the new and old ones," said he. Police say it is difficult to check any vehicle bearing Maoist number plate. "We do not know the process and type of action if such vehicles with the Maoist government's number plate kill someone or violate traffic rule," said Mahendra Chand, in-charge of Regional Traffic Police Post at Attariya. "May be the victims have to go to the Maoists. No?" he questioned. Meanwhile, a customs official at Kailali Customs Office said that no vehicle can be brought in from India via other customs points except from Bhairahawa and Birgunj. "If they are brought from elsewhere except these two points, they are smuggled and bear no legality at the transportation office."