Dr Shrestha, who has been with the cancer hospital since its establishment, had driven out of Chitwan Hospital at Chaubis Kothi, Bharatpur for his quarters at 10:15 pm after completing two minor surgeries, and is now suspected to have been kidnapped. He had another major surgery scheduled at the private hospital for Wednesday morning. [break]
Dr Shrestha had called his wife at the hospital´s doctors quarters at 8:30 pm and said he would return by 10 pm. She called at the hospital when he did not turn up even by midnight. A search for him started after it was learnt that he did not reach home even two hours after leaving Chitwan Hospital around three kilometers away.
Promoter of Chitwan Hospital Keshav Devkota said Dr Shrestha was alone while leaving the hospital in his silver car (Ba 3 Cha 989). A police sentry is present at Chaubis Kothi Traffic Post near the hospital round the clock and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ravi Raj Khadka said there was no suspicious activity in the area around the time.
Police have yet to find any clue despite an extensive search since Wednesday morning. DSP Khadka said that since afternoon police have been searching places where the car could be hidden, and they suspected the vehicle may have been taken north of Munglin toward Gorkha and Pokhara.
No relative or acquaintance has any clue about the whereabouts of Dr Shrestha. Police claimed there was no strong basis for suspecting abduction since there had been no threatening calls before or after he went missing. "He is currently missing. Everything will be clear after we find him. We will find him at any cost," DSP Khadka promised.
Meanwhile, Secretary of the Private Hospitals Coordination Committee Keshav Devkota disclosed that private and government hospitals in Chitwan district would halt all services except emergency until the missing doctor is found. Nepal Medical Association has also warned of nationwide protests.
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