The team led by Nepal Medical Association (NMA) President Dr Kedar Narsingh KC and including Nepal Bar Association (NBA) President Prem Bahadur Khadka, human rights activist Sudeep Pathak, NMA General Secretary Dr Anjani Kumar Jha, Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) General Secretary Poshan KC, Constituent Assembly (CA) Member Mangal BK and Dr Bhola Rauniyar of NMA, Bharatpur said talks with the doctor´s family Monday revealed that he is safe. [break]
The seven-member team formed by NMA reached Chitwan Monday and held discussions with Dr Shrestha´s wife Sheelu. "We were told during our discussion with the family that he would return in the next couple of days. Dr Shrestha´s wife revealed that the situation arose in course of carrying out his duty," Pathak said during an interaction in the afternoon.
Pathak said discussions with security agencies and other stakeholders also helped the team arrive at the conclusion. "Though the incident was preplanned, we have found that Dr Shrestha is safe," NBA President Khadka concurred.
Team coordinator Dr KC claimed that a top level conspiracy was hatched to abduct Dr Shrestha. "Further steps will be taken in such a way that his life doesn´t come under threat," Dr KC stated.
Maoist CA member BK has suspected the incident may also be politically motivated. Dr Shrestha, who is missing since Tuesday night last week, was appointed executive director of the hospital by the Maoist-led government.
The investigative team revealed that Chief District Officer (CDO) of Chitwan Basanta Raj Gautam and police claimed to be close to solving the case during discussions. "Many things can´t be revealed now as investigation is under way," the team quoted police as saying.
The team started its work in the morning by talking with locals from Darechowk Village Development Committee (VDC) near Ghoptebhir along the Narayanghat-Mungling road where Dr Shrestha´s briefcase was found.
The team during discussion with hospital doctors also found that the hospital administration and contractor were at odds over the e-tender called for financial transactions and ban on medicines bought outside the hospital.
The doctors said that Dr Shrestha had made arrangements to sell medicines for chemotherapy on the hospital premises through Sajha Medical Store after finding discrepancies in price of the medicines and use of expired medicines. He had also annulled a previous contract and started process of e-tender to control irregularities worth millions of rupees.
Chitwan doctors start stringent protest
While the NMA has given ultimatum to find Dr Shrestha´s whereabouts till Tuesday, doctors in Chitwan have stopped providing even emergency services in all hospitals from Monday.
Hospitals in Chitwan had stopped giving all services except emergency.The Save Dr Bhakta Man Shrestha Campaign decided to stop all services from Monday morning to put pressure on the administration.
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