Nepal Police has sent at least 15 Indian phone numbers through Interpol to Indian authorities for verification that could lead provide important clues to solve the mystery around the high-profile crime.[break]
The Indian phone numbers were among those that contacted Nepali cell phone number used by Manmeet Singh, the purported contract-killer who shot Central Jail inmate Yunus Ansari and his aides.
"We wonder why the Indian authorities haven´t done a simple verification," said a high-ranking police official involved in the investigation. "They had responded promptly when we approached them for the same type of verification in connection with Jamim Shah´s murder last year."
The possibility of ascertaining the ´source and motive´ behind the March 10 shooting seemed bleak until investigating officials stumbled on a Nepali cell phone number (9813162464) used by Singh and his aides and traced its call history.
Republica got hold of the list of Indian phone numbers through police sources who requested anonymity owing to the sensitivity of the case. The numbers include 9792664666, 819005807200, 819005807200, 918400246815 and 919760365855. The most important number, officials said, is 9792664666, which reportedly belonged to Singh´s friend Ajay and was frequently used to contact Ramu and Suresh Dwibedi who were among the five Indian nationals who are believed to have stayed in the capital to plot the Central Jail shooting. Investigating officials have been able to trace Singh´s mobile (9044158700) and landline number of his home (05222423206) in Lucknow.
Officials were repeatedly bluffed by Singh during interrogations. He had provided three false numbers to distract investigations. But a single paper chit with Singh´s Ncell number that officials came across by chance, changed the direction of the investigations.
"Given these findings, we have been looking forward to a cooperative response from the Indians," said an official involved in the investigations. "But with the matter getting much delayed, the government should now take a diplomatic initiative in this connection."
Besides the phone numbers, Nepal Police have also sought from its Indian counterpart Singh´s identity and his background as a contract-killer.
Singh, 42, had entered Central Jail´s visiting lounge ´dodging´ all security arrangements and opened fire at M. Yunus Ansari. He fired five rounds, only one of which injured Ansari in the arm, before being overpowered by security personnel.
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