KANCHANPUR, Oct 1: The investigation into the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta has hit a snag after the DNA samples collected from three more suspects did not match DNA on the victim's vaginal swab.

A forensic investigation found that the DNA on the victim's vaginal swab and the DNA samples collected from suspended Superintendent of Police (SP) Dilli Bista, his son Kiran and Bhimdatta Municipality mayor's nephew Ayush Bista. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Krishna Ojha of District Police Office, Kanchanpur, confirmed the findings Sunday.DNA samples of the three were collected on September 13. With this, the investigators have examined the DNA samples of five suspects so far.

DNA examination is not everything. We are investigating into the case from both physical and technical aspects. -Kuber Kadayat, superintendent of police

The 13-year-old girl from Bhimdatta Municipality in Kanchapnur was raped and murdered on July 26 and her body was found dumped in a sugarcane field near her home on the next day. The heinous crime attracted nation-wide attention, partly contributed by suspicious behavior of the police personnel involved in the initial stage of investigation.

Police personnel involved in the initial investigation have been accused taking conscious efforts to destroy evidences from the site. Relatives have accused police of washing off perpetrators' sperm and pubic hair from Nirmala's trouser after the body was found. Likewise, they have also accused police of attempting to frame innocent individuals in an attempt to protect the real culprit(s). Police had also arrested a mentally unstable individual and forced him to own up to the crime.

Under pressure from growing protests and widespread criticism, the government has formed several probe committees to investigate the matter. However, the investigation has not gotten anywhere. The latest forensic report appears to have made the case even more complicated.SP Kuber Kadayat acknowledged their failure to make headway in the investigation.

He, however, tried to defend the ongoing investigations saying, “DNA examination is not everything. We are investigating into the case from both physical and technical aspects.”According to him, police have already interrogated over 150 people.

“If we find someone suspicious, we can repeat interrogation with them. But we do not have strong suspects so far.”Locals of Kanchanpur organized demonstrations again after it became clear that the investigation has hit another snag.

They are claiming that people in power are hatching a ploy to protect the culprit(s) involved in Nirmala's rape and murder.“Someone is definitely making attempts to cover up the truth of the incident. We will not give in. Our struggle for justice will continue,” said Helina Shrestha, coordinator of a struggle committee formed to pressurize the government to uncover the truth behind the rape and murder.

 
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