Siraha – An Indian national involved in multiple robbery cases across districts in the Madhesh region has been arrested from the Nepal-India border area in Siraha. The police apprehended Arif Khan, also known as Arif Hussain, on Saturday.

According to Birendra Paswan, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and spokesperson for the District Police Office, Hussain has been charged with robbery, looting, and organized crime in both Nepal and India. Hussain was identified as one of the accused in the May 2023 (Jestha 16, 2080) armed robbery at the NMB Bank branch in Mahottari Rural Municipality-2, where a group of five armed individuals looted 3.8 million rupees at gunpoint.

Similarly, Hussain was involved in another incident on February 2023 (Falgun 10, 2079), where Global IME Bank employees were robbed of 900,000 rupees at gunpoint near the Bathaha Bridge in Mirchaiya Municipality-3, Siraha. DSP Paswan added, “Investigations have revealed Hussain’s involvement in several other robbery and theft cases, though not all of them have formal complaints filed.”

Hussain is reportedly the leader of an organized criminal group based in India that has been orchestrating theft and robbery operations across the Nepal-India border. Some members of the same group have already been apprehended by Mahottari police. Indian authorities have also issued a reward of 25,000 Indian rupees for information leading to Hussain’s capture, indicating the extent of his criminal activities across both nations.

The arrest marks significant progress in curbing cross-border organized crime in the region. Police investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the group.