An unidentified group on Monday torched a Jeep of GMR Upper Karnali Hydropower Limited that is developing a 900-MW project. The Bolero jeep (BA 8 CHA 1585) was set on fire last evening when it was parked at the project site in Saattalla-1 nearby the Ramghat River.

GMR is an Indian multinational company. Police have suspected the hands of the parties protesting against Indian investment in the arson incident. 

A security team led by Dilekh Police Chief Bir Bahadur Oli has intensified the search operation. It has been learnt that two unknown person came and sprinkled petrol and set the jeep ablaze while it was parked alongside a river. Local traders and policemen doused the fire but the Jeep was completely damaged. The accident occurred two kilometres away from the project.

Meanwhile, the locals expressed their surprise that the accident took place amid tight security. “It was a lapse of project officers and the APF personnel deployed for the project security,” said a local over telephone. “It seems like the incident is part of GMR strategy to put the project on hold.”

The accident has sparked speculations among the locals that the GMR wants to hold the river in its name rather than completing the project on time.

The government and GMR signed the Power Development Agreement (PDA) in September, 2015, for construction of 900-MW Upper Karnali project. The company is currently preparing the groundwork for pre-construction financial and technological preparations of the project.