The government has started holding talks with loan shark victims after forming a six-member task force.

Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand on Friday formed the task force led by joint secretary Bhisma Bhusal on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s instructions.

“As per the demand of the victims, the Home Ministry formed a task force to study the problems faced by people in various districts at the hands of loan sharks,” said Phanindra Mani Pokharel, spokesperson for the Home Ministry. “We hope the victims will now end their struggle.”

People from various districts had arrived in Kathmandu demanding justice after falling victim to loan sharks.

The task force includes Senior Superintendent Dinesh Acharya who is with the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police; Home Ministry’s under secretary Shree Krishna Poudel, Superintendent Krishna Prasad Koirala from the Crime Investigation Section of Nepal Police and Deputy Investigation Director of National Investigation Department Mukunda Marahattha as members.

Deputy Superintendent Roshan Khadka, who is with the Central Investigation Bureau, has been nominated member secretary of the task force.

The task force has been given a month’s time to complete its investigation.

The task force has been mandated to visit the affected districts to find out the reasons why loan sharks are active, ways to control such unlawful operations and to bring the culprits to book.

“To make their mandate clear we will sit with the task force members soon,” Pokharel told the Post.