Infuriated locals chanted slogans in front of APO, demanding that police bring the murderers of nine-year-old Raj Acharya, who was found dead inside a park at Yalambar Community Forest to book. [break]
"Police say four persons were involved in the murder," Prithvi Man Gurung, one of the protestors, said. "However, only one person has been arrested so far. We, relatives and neighbors of the slain boy´s family, came out to pile pressure on the police to arrest the remaining three as well."
Similarly, all private schools in Sunsari district remained closed on Friday protesting the murder. Students of Siksha Niketan Higher Secondary School staged a rally demanding security. They also held a condolence meet at Bhanu Chowk, the central part of Dharan, in the boy´s memory.
Meanwhile, irate locals vandalized the house of Prati Kishor Jha, the only accused arrested so far, in Dharan-16. They also tried to attack Prati Kishor´s family members. "Since Thursday night, they have been threatening to immolate us alive," said Prajaleshwari Jha, elder sister of Prati Kishor. "We could not sleep throughout the night due to fear."
Police have taken Prati Kishor´s father Prem and elder brother Pradyumneshwar under their control to protect them from angry locals.
Meanwhile, Raj´s mother Anju Acharya has not regained her consciousness fully until Friday. "She has not eaten anything since she learnt about her son´s murder," Anju´s brother Dipak Pokhrel said. "My sister is extremely traumatized."
Anju was admitted to BP Koirala Institute of Health Science Hospital (BPKIHS) Friday after her condition deteriorated. Raj was killed two weeks before his father Kiran Acharya´s previously-scheduled arrival. Kiran, who is in Dubai to make ends meet, has preponed his arrival after his only son´s murder. He will land in Nepal Sunday.
Police have not identified the absconding three alleged murderers even after arresting Prati Kishor. Worse, police, who said Thursday that Raj was kidnapped for ransom, are unaware of the real motives of the murderers.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dipak Regmi said their investigation reached nowhere as Prati Kishor´s kept on changing his statement during interrogation. "But, we will definitely arrest all the killers."
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