Local people at Chhhare in Thansing VDC, Nuwakot, seized a truck loaded with 270 bundles of galvanised zinc sheets on Saturday, suspecting discrepancies. The zinc sheets were sent by the Nepal Investment Bank as a relief for quake-ravaged schools in Khanigaun, Kabilas, Panchakanya, Bhadrutar, Chaughada and Mahakali VDCs in the district. The truck (Ba 3 Kha 3844) was en route to Bhadrutar and Mahakali after unloading 30 bundles of the zinc sheets at Thatibhanjyang in Kabilas when it was seized by the locals accusing Ramesh Mahat, personal secretary to Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat, of trying to take them to the Capital to sell. They also obstructed the Tokha-Chhahare-Trishuli road section demanding an investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, refuting the allegations, Ramesh Mahat claimed he had nothing to do with the relief materials sent to schools.

Issuing a press statement on Saturday in Bidur, he said it was a “premeditated act to tarnish his political image”. He added no one could sell the zinc sheets imprinted with the stamp and logo of the bank. “I am very sad and disappointed that I was blamed for the incident I was not involved in,” he said in the statement. He clarified that poor communication between the truck driver and the bank about the transportation of zinc sheets created confusion. “As a political and social activist, I had arranged a truck to transport the zinc sheets provided by the bank to other villages after some of them were distributed Kabilas and Panchakanya. “I had asked the driver to talk to the bank official in the Capital for delivery of zinc sheets to other VDCs. But, I am accused of trying to sell them in Kathmandu. This is unfortunate and painful,” Mahat said. The bank had sent 300 bundles of zinc sheets with its stamp and logo for distribution to schools in the district on Friday.