A group led by Durga BC, of Jamuni in Bardiya, told in their statement to the police that they murdered the 22-year-old Raju Dhital, of Naubasta-8, after kidnapping him on November 24. Durga had built acquaintance with Dhital family some four months ago.The police, however, have not been able to recover the body even after combing the entire Bholagaudi jungle in Bardiya, where the kidnappers claim committed the murder.
Durga is an acquaintance of Raju´s mother Devi. Four months ago, Durga started visiting the Dhital family. Later, she introduced Hemanta Shahi to the Dhital family and they developed close affinity.
“They stayed with us for days. We would even feast together,” said Dhanu Dhital, Raju´s father. On Nov 26, Hemanta had phoned Dhanu demanding Rs 2.5 million. “That was when we came to know that Raju had been kidnapped,” said Dhanu.
Raju had passed +2 in first division and had gone to Kathmandu to pursue higher studies. According to the Dhital family, the kidnappers called them from Raju´s mobile every night for ransom and asked them to bring the amount at various places in Bardiya. But they would not be found. “They would tell us to send my wife and elder daughter only,” Dhanu said.
When the kidnappers finally agreed to release Raju for Rs 1.2 million on December 1, his mother and daughter went to Kathmandu. The kidnappers had warned them to keep everything secret. However, the police had been following the abductors after being tipped off by locals.
Four kidnappers were arrested while they were receiving the amount in Sundhara. Durga, Hemanta, Bhakta Bahadur Singh and Nilkantha KC were among those arrested. Within 15 minutes, three others were nabbed in Nepalgunj.
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