"Our preliminary investigation has found that Prati Kishor alone killed Raj," Dipak Regmi, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), told a press conference held Saturday in Dharan. According to Regmi, Prati Kishor brutally killed Raj due to personal animosity. [break]
Earlier on Thursday, shortly after they arrested Prati Kishor for his alleged involvement in Raj´s murder, police had claimed that four persons, including Prati Kishor, had killed the three-grader for ransom. But, as it appears now, police´s claim was premature.
Minor issue, horrific crime
According to the police, Prati Kishor, whose house is just a stone´s throw away from the victim´s house in Dharan-16, had long been nursing a personal animosity since the latter kept complaining with his mother against him. Raj´s mother used to abuse Prati Kishor, 16, whenever her son complained against him. Prati Kishor was irritated with Raj and was looking for chances to take revenge.
On Thursday, Prati Kishor took Raj to Hariyali Community Forest, roughly three kilometer south of Annapurna Chowk where his school is located, by a three-wheeler. He was drugged on the way. Once inside the forest, he was given a bottle of Dew laced with Royal Stag. And, Prati Kishor brutally hit on his head with a baton.
Prati Kishor was arrested hours after Raj´s body was found. However, Prati Kishor managed to puzzle police for two days by repeatedly changing his statement during interrogation. Police arrested at least 20 persons on the basis of his statement. However, none of them had any involvement in the murder.
Meanwhile, police made Prati Kishor public at a press conference after irate locals pelted stones at the Area Police Office, Dharan. Police had to use force to disperse the locals. Police even arrested Aman Shrestha, one of the locals involved in stone-pelting. Aman was released later following locals´ pressure.
"We had gathered in front of the police office only to pile moral pressure on them to arrest all the perpetrators," Sharada Basnyat, a local, said.
"Instead of listening to us, police thrashed us." Local people have doubted police´s latest statement. "It is hard for us to believe that Prati Kishor alone killed Raj," Shobha Gautam, a local woman who also participated in picketing, said. "Police might have presented Prati Kishor as the only perpetrator to save others."
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