Drug abuse is causing heinous crimes in Nepal’s Madhesh
Sketch for representation: Drug abuse and addiction On January 8, Hari Dev Raut of Jaleshwar municipality -5, Mahottari, was murdered near a police station. Local drug abuser Surendra Raut, after consuming narcotics, attacked Hari Dev, a 75-year-old local trader. He died on the spot. Surendra was high on drugs, he swore at Hari Dev and attacked brutally, says DSP Santosh Pokharel, the District Police Office spokesperson, quoting witnesses. “As informed by the witnesses, Surendra was into alcoholism and drug addiction ,” says Pokharel. Stakeholders and officials say this is just representative criminal cases that have their roots in drug addiction, warning it could go up if concerned authorities do not pay attention to the problem. Cases galore The Madhesh province in southern Nepal On December 26, 2022, Kabita Devi Sah of Bideha municipality , Dhanusha, was found dead in her own room. Police were informed that she along with her 14-month-old son Kartik died of ele...