Police organization's image tarnished over incompetence of police officials: IGP Khanal

MAHENDRANAGAR, Sept 7: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sarbendra Khanal has admitted to have made some mistakes while investigating the Nirmala rape-and-murder case.

Speaking at a national campaign program titled ‘Minimizing Violence Against Women, Protecting Human Rights and Security: Accountability of Nepal Police’ organized in Mahendranagar on Friday, IGP Khanal said police have made some mistakes in the course of investigation into the Nirmala rape-murder case. “We will bring those involved in the incident to book whoever they are,” vowed Khanal.

Speaking at a program organized by National Human Rights Commission, Khanal said, “This heinous crime occured during my stint as IGP. I am very sad. Nepal Police has never faced such accusation before this incident. A high-level probe committee has also been looking into this case.”

Meanwhile, Khanal urged one and all to cooperate in the investigation and asserted that he would bring those involved in the case into justice regardless of whoever they are.

“We will not frame anyone who is not related to the case. The image of entire organization has been tarnished by this blame,” said Khanal.

Nirmala went missing while she was returning home from her friend Roshani Bam’s house where she had gone to do homework during the day.

Her body had been found in the sugarcane field few kilometers away from Bam’s house in Bhimdatta Municipality-19, Bagphata the next day. Police have taken Bam sisters Roshani and Babita into custody. Police said they are taking statements from them for investigation, said DSP Krishna Raj Ojha, spokesperson of District Police Office, Kanchanpur.  

Police have also arrested 41-year-old mentally deranged Dilip Singh Bista in the course of investigation. He has been taken to Kathmandu for his DNA test. All the reports are yet to come.

Earlier, a police team led by DSP Angur GC had come to Mahendranagr to investigate the case.

On the 26th day of the incident, the probe team had arrested Bista of Bagphata on the charge of rape –and-murder of Nirmala.

Following the arrest of Bista, tension flared up in Kanchanpur. Sunny Khuna was killed in the police firing during a clash between the police and the agitators.

A five-member probe team led by Joint Secretary Hari Prasad Mainali has been deployed in Mahendranagar for investigation.