Motorcycle theft on the rise

By Ishwar rauniyar

KATHMANDU, July 14 - Dilip Kumar K.C. returned home on Sunday on foot, as his motorcycle, a Hero Honda, was stolen from the parking of the Everest Hotel.

Durkaman Maharjan of Kirtipur had a similar fate; however, his motorcycle was stolen from outside his house on Sunday morning as well.

K.C. and Maharjan were both at the Traffic Police office to file reports. But they are not the only ones. Kathmandu is seeing an increasing number of motorcycle thefts, and according to police records, 132 motorcycles were reported stolen this month. Include the past six months, and 983 motorcycles owners registered cases with the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division. Of the 983, the police have just found 193 motorcycles so far.

"Motorcycle thefts are increasing as people from different parts of the country are coming to the capital," said Bibhuti Raj Pandey, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Kathmandu Metropolitan Traffic Office.

He also said that much of the youth is unemployed, and this is an easy way to earn some quick bucks.

Traffic Police Inspector Roshan Acharya added, "Motorcycle owners should be careful while parking their vehicles at their homes at night." According to him, most motorcycles are stolen from the premises of the owners.

However, motorcycle owner Ramesh Aryal from Old Baneshwor blames the police for the rise in thefts. He said, "The police has not been mobilised to every part of the city, which has made robbers more confident."

The police also say there are at least 10 to 12 thefts per month from the 28 paid parking spots inside the city. Despite paying a sum of Rs. 5 per hour for two-wheelers, Namraj Dhakal, chief, department of revenue collection at the Kathmandu Metropolitan Office, said, "There are no rules that the parking tender holders have to pay for any thefts." He added, "It is the duty of the police to look after and control these kinds of activities."

Pandey, however, disagrees with Dhakal's statement. He said, "We have been requesting the Metropolitan Office to make an agreement where parking tender holders are responsible for any thefts from the paid parking area. But they have ignored our requests."

There are nearly 334,000 motorcycles registered in Bagmati. There are also nearly 350 motorcycles at the traffic police compound, whose owners have not claimed them. The motorcycles were brought to the office for investigation of theft charges