KATHMANDU, June 12: Police on Tuesday arrested Ashok Lama from the UN Park area in Lalitpur on the charge of extortion.
A team of Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) shot the 38-year-old in his right leg before arresting him after Lama and his aides allegedly tried to shoot at police while attempting to flee.
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Lama, who was wanted by police for a long time, has been accused of extorting various businessmen on a weekly basis. According to spokesperson at the MPCD Superintendent of Police (SP) Narendra Uprety, around eight public offence cases including a case of murder attempt have been lodged against Lama in Kavrepalanchowk, Makwanpur, Lalitpur and Metropolitan Police Range Office, Kathmandu.
Lama was accompanied by his three aides when the MPCD team acting on a tip-off reached nearby UN Park to nab him, said SP Uprety. “Lama and his gang were in possession of guns. As they encountered our team, they tried to attack our team. Then, our team shot Lama in the leg to take him under control,” he said, adding, Lama's aides fled the scene once Lama was shot. Police said they recovered a pistol and two bullets from the scene.
Lama, who is under police control, is undergoing medical treatment at Bir Hospital.
SP Uprety said Lama was arrested as part of the special campaign launched two weeks ago by MPCD to control theft and other illegal activities including extortion in the Kathmandu Valley.
Lama is part of the gang of another notorious gangster Dawa Lama, who was critically injured after being shot in broad daylight by an unidentified group last year. They have been accused of extorting from businessmen of Lalitpur and other districts.
