“Chinese Nationals Assaulted in Sindhuli: Fear of Deepening Impact on Foreign Investment”

Sindhuli — An attack by a Nepali driver of the company and locals on Chinese staff in Sindhuli today has signaled a serious adverse effect on the foreign investment environment. Five Chinese nationals were injured in the incident, three of whom have been brought to Kathmandu for treatment after the situation escalated following a forceful attempt by a driver who had been dismissed from service some time ago.

In a clash between the Nepali driver and Chinese staff at the Chinese-invested Himalayan Food Company located in Saha, Marin Rural Municipality-4, Sindhuli, two Nepalis and five Chinese were injured today. The injured Nepalis are Nabaraj Bamjan, 30, of Dhimile, Marin Rural Municipality-6, and Gokarna Katuwal, 22, of Katari Municipality-12, Udayapur. Among the Chinese nationals working at the company, 38-year-old Yang, 45-year-old Yang Haibo Waya, 40-year-old Qiang Chong, 46-year-old Chujen, and 31-year-old Leusensi sustained injuries to their heads, hands, chests, and mouths. Police reported that three of them were brought to the capital as they required MRIs.

It is alleged that local residents were incited to join the beating by driver Nabaraj Bamjan following his dismissal from service. The factory, which processes Nepali water buffalo meat for export to China, was established two years ago based on an agreement made during then-Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to China. Local journalists say today’s incident is likely to further exacerbate the foreign investment environment, already destabilized by Nepal’s recent political instability.

According to a people’s representative present at a discussion held at the Kapilakot Area Police Office after the beating, the Chinese staff had dismissed driver Nabaraj after he remained on leave for an extended period. Subsequently, Gokarna Katuwal was appointed. However, yesterday Nabaraj returned to work and attempted to drive the vehicle. The Chinese side is said to have responded that they could not reinstate him as a driver, stating that all due benefits and salary for the intervening period had been provided.

The Chinese side claims that when the company’s Chinese staff were about to go out with the new driver this morning, Nabaraj snatched the keys and obstructed them. Claiming that the Chinese had beaten him, he soon brought villagers to the scene, turning the factory premises into a battleground. It is understood that they struck the Chinese nationals on the head and face with rods, causing deep injuries.

Meanwhile, Chinese and Nepali staff and workers involved in the Fast Track project, being constructed under the responsibility of the Nepali Army, have not received their salaries for 5-6 months due to the Nepal government’s failure to release funds. Despite repeated requests for fund release before the Chinese New Year, they have been forced to return empty-handed. It is observed that various obstacles are being created by the relevant government authorities to prevent the timely completion of all 12-13 Chinese projects currently operational in Nepal.