RAJBIRAJ, Jan 5: Preliminary investigation into the killing on Monday of Assistant Sub-Inspector Ramesh Kumar Subba, the in-charge Jhutaki VDC police post, has revealed the involvement of a gang of smugglers and criminals from border areas in the crime, according to Saptari Chief District Officer (CDO) Narayan Prasad Bhatta.
Immediately after ASI Subba was shot on Monday, a joint team of security officials led by CDO Bhatta inspected the incident site and inquired with the locals about the incident. "We reached the conclusion based on the information received from locals, different security agencies and their sources," he said.
"Although we are not in a position to reveal the identities of those involved, we've already have the names and address of the suspects," CDO Bhatta said.
According to him, the criminals have already absconded from the area but they will not be able to evade arrest too long. He claimed that the accused have been found to be involved in transporting illegal weapons and goods.
Although the armed group led by Jaykrishna Goit had claimed responsibility for the murder, CDO Bhatta said no evidence has surfaced linking the group to the murder.
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The nature and circumstantial evidence suggest the involvement of smugglers or criminal gangs, Bhatta said.
The emergency meeting of security agencies on Tuesday decided to intensify security throughout the district. Security has also been beefed up in the areas along Nepal-India border.
"We've also decided to increase the number of security personnel in the district following the incident," CDO Bhatta added.
Meanwhile, locals residing in nearby areas of Jhutaki police post said that the deceased ASI Subba was very friendly to them. "In a short span of his deployment in the area, Subba had been able to win many friends in the area," Abdul Gaphal, a local, said.
