KATHMANDU: Ganga Pariyar from Kawasoti Municipality-2, Nawalpur, borrowed Rs. 300,000 from local lender Bimala Tiwari in 2016, with an interest rate that quickly compounded to Rs. 700,000 by 2024. Unable to repay the amount, Ganga transferred her house, worth approximately Rs. 6.5 million, to Bimala despite her husband's objections. However, after approaching the police and the Loan Shark Victims' Struggle Committee, Bimala returned the house once she received Rs. 700,000 as the interest amount. Ganga was overjoyed to reclaim her house.
Since the Gorkhapatra Daily reported on loan sharking in Nawalpur, more victims like Ganga have received justice. Sharada Paudel, Vice-President of the Loan Shark Victims' Struggle Committee, noted that over 20 victims have recovered their properties, land, signed blank cheques, or cash. The struggle continues, with 38 victims submitting their forms to the District Administration Office by Wednesday, detailing their losses to loan sharks.
Chief District Officer Arun Pokharel praised the efforts to resolve unfair transactions, calling loan sharking the 'cancer of Nepali society'. He assured the victims that the District Administration Office would coordinate with the commission to prevent and stop such activities in the future. The forms submitted detailed Rs. 219 million worth of properties, land, cash, and cheques taken by eight identified perpetrators from the 38 victims.
While the administration has yet to reveal the names of the perpetrators, Chief District Officer Pokharel confirmed that all details would be submitted to the commission for a long-term solution. Janak Thapa, an advisor to the Struggle Committee, emphasized that the fight against these unfair practices is ongoing and that the victims are demanding appropriate compensation.
