Malaysian authorities on Monday arrested nine Nepalis and three foreigners in connection with an attack on Nepali workers at a hostel in the Pasir Gudang section of the Johor Bahru, city in Malaysia on Sunday evening. At least two Nepali nationals were critically injured when a gang of around 150 people attacked them with lethal weapons. A Nepali embassy official in Malaysia said that the clash occurred following a minor dispute which has yet to be established. The incident occurred some 344 km away from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

Rajiv Biswakarma of Samari-4, Nuwakot and Ram Lal Shah of Mohammadpur of Chandranighapur, Rautahat were severely injured in the incident. Both of Shah’s hands and feet are fractured, while Biswakarma’s left foot is fractured. The duo is undergoing treatment at the local Ismayal hospital.

 “Local youths attacked the Nepalis with iron rods and other lethal weapons over a minor dispute with a local youth,” said Suraj Yadav, a witness. “They were in a group of around 150 to 200.” Another worker recalled that the entire area was overwhelmed with fear. “While coming back from the workplace, we saw hordes of people running away in terror. There were people with knives on the hostel premises,” said another Nepali witness. He informed that the incident occurred in block number 20 of the hostel.

According to an embassy source, the police arrested Santosh Poudel, Ramesh Kumar Bhujel, Aman Gupta, Ragan Rai, Manoj Sunar, Nilkantha Jaisi, Dal Bahadur Bayembu, Pawan Shah and Rakesh Raj in connection with the accident. Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Arjun Bahadur Thapa said that two Malaysians and a Burmese national were also arrested.

The embassy sent a team to the spot when some Nepali workers informed about the incident to the mission and media personnel. The team visited the scene of the incident and spoke to local police authorities and the injured Nepalis and is expected to complete their investigations on Tuesday.

 Meanwhile, Nepali embassy officials clarified that no one was killed in the accident as had been reported in the local media. Issuing a press release, the embassy urged Nepali workers for calm. According to an embassy official, Nepalis working at four companies—Eco Well, Crate Brass, KSM and EVF—were living in the hostel. Sagar Neupane, who is living in the hostel, said that two companies shifted their workers to another location on Monday. Police have also strengthened the security for that area and have barred people from entry.

Acting Ambassador to Malaysia Lekh Nath Bhattarai met with top officials at the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday and asked them to ensure the security of Nepali workers. “The officials have given us full assurance that our workers’ safety will be ensured,” Amal Kiran Dhakal, labour attaché at the Nepali embassy in Malaysia, told the Post over the telephone. As the incident occured over the weekend, Dhakal suspects that alcohol might have escalated the incident. 

Published on: 26 March 2013 | The Kathmandu Post