Gaddachowki customs officer removed after dispute with Armed Police SP

The Department of Customs has temporarily relieved Chakra Dev Bhatt, customs officer at Gaddachowki Customs Office in Kanchanpur, of his responsibilities at the office.

The department has sent a letter directing Bhatt to report to its office in Tripureshwar to investigate a dispute with Khum Bahadur KC, superintendent of the Armed Police Force and chief of Battalion No. 34 in Kailali. Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle's private secretariat has also confirmed the development.

The dispute between the two officials flared up after Armed Police seized a car with Indian number plates, cleared through Kanchanpur customs, at Attariya. SP KC said he had stopped the vehicle on suspicion that the value of goods had been under-declared.

An audio clip that surfaced a few days ago alleged that Bhatt had pressured KC, saying he would call everyone from the home minister to the Inspector General of Police if the vehicle was not released. The department said it has not taken any final action against Bhatt so far and has not concluded who is at fault or innocent in the incident, adding that necessary action will proceed after further investigation.