KATHMANDU: Police in Kathmandu have arrested 47 people, including notorious gangster Milan Gurung, better known as Chakre Milan, during a lavish birthday celebration that spilled onto the streets with a display of pomp and obstruction of traffic.
In a joint operation by Kathmandu District Police Range and the Valley Crime Investigation Office, the arrests were made on Wednesday from Thamel and Maharajgunj areas, where the group was found engaged in activities described as criminal in nature.
According to police, Chakre Milan had organized a birthday party at Hotel Sambala in Maharajgunj. The event, marked by loud celebrations and heavy street processions, caught the attention of law enforcement. Dozens of vehicles were paraded in convoy style, blocking traffic and raising alarms, prompting police to intervene and raid the hotel.
Police said Milan, who has long been under close surveillance for his alleged involvement in organized crime, was taken into custody along with his associates. His longtime rival, another notorious gangster-turned-politician Deepak Manange, is currently in jail.
During the same operation, police also detained Yuvaraj Gurung, alias Sanu Bhai, a former associate of slain gangster Kumar Shrestha, known as Ghaite. Officials said the group had recently been frequenting restaurants and nightclubs in Thamel and Maharajgunj, where they were allegedly involved in intimidation, extortion, fights, and other criminal activities.
Kathmandu Police Chief SSP Bishwo Adhikari led the operation. He confirmed that all detainees, including Chakre Milan, will be presented before the court for further investigation and legal proceedings.
Milan, a well-known figure in Kathmandu’s underworld, has been arrested multiple times in the past but often secured release through legal loopholes. His last major arrest was in 2017 from Maharajgunj. Despite his notoriety, in the run-up to the 2022 parliamentary elections, the CPN-UML had even recommended him as a candidate from Gorkha constituency-2.
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