While educational institutions and market remained closed, vehicles stayed off the roads.[break]
The body of Kapil Dev Dwivedi, who was kidnapped along with his bosom pal Liladhar Bhatta on September 30, has been found buried near a paddy field in Indrapur-7, Motipur Wednesday two days after the latter´s body was found in Khaskarkandou.
The abductors killed Kapil, 15, sawing his throat and buried him around two kilometers away from the District Police Office, though his father Sanjay had paid a ransom amount of one million rupees. Kapil´s body was found following information provided by the arrested kidnapper Madhesh Meraj Ahmad Shai (Adarsha), western region commander and Banke president of the Tarai Janatantrik Party.
Kapil´s father Sanjay and local human rights activist CP Singh had handed over the ransom amount to the abductors near ABC Bricks Factory in Udhrapur Monday night. Meraj was arrested while hiding at his brother´s residence in Indrapur-3 during a police operation Tuesday night after Kapil was not released despite the kidnapper´s promise that they would do so within an hour after receiving the ransom.
The 10th grader at Jaya Bageshwari Higher Secondary School, Liladhar, and the ninth grader at the same school were both the only sons of their parents. Permanent resident of Bhimdutta-7, Mahendranagar and a police sub inspector by profession, Dinkar´s son Liladhar and daughter had been staying in Nepalgunj for their studies. Dinkar is presently posted at the District Police Office, Jajarkot.
Kapil´s father Sanjay is the principal of Nepal National Primary School.
Chief of Banke Police Mahesh Bikram Shah said president of the management committee of the school Suresh Burma had got Kapil abducted due to personal animosity with Sanjay. Liladhar was caught in the abduction as he went with his pal Kapil to Manpur--around four kilometers away from Nepalgunj -- where Burma had called Kapil.
Meraj abducted the boys from Manpur and took them to Burma´s house. The abductors had initially demanded five million in ransom, killed Liladhar and thrown his body to make Sanjay, who had expressed inability to pay more than Rs 25,000, cough up the sum. The scared Sanjay had then agreed to pay one million but the abductors killed Kapil after receiving the ransom as he recognized Burma. "They took the ransom and then killed him," a disconsolate Sanjay rued.
Kapil´s maternal uncle Shiva Shankar Bhandari said they had wanted to take the police while going to pay the ransom but human rights activist Singh advised not to inform the police saying it could complicate matters. Bhandari accused Singh of complicity in the murder and police, who knew of the incident only through the Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) that was summoned for help by Sanjay, said Singh´s role in the case is being investigated.
Police have arrested Ranjav Ali Khan, Ibrahim Manihar, Shobhit Burma and Rajit Ram Burma -- all from Indrapur-3 -- along with Meraj while Suresh Burma is absconding. Meraj said Suresh Burma made off with the ransom money.
Meraj was sought by the police for over half a dozen murders. Meraj, who was arrested twice earlier, said seven persons were involved in the abduction.
The most wanted criminal had been involved in robbery and murder from an early age and was last arrested on June 6, 2008 for stealing telephone wire. Sources at the District Administration Office said district level leaders of CPN-UML had put pressure on them for his release then. Police say Meraj was committed seven murders after being released on a bail of Rs 20,000.
Involvement of murderer with police
Meraj has claimed that he received secret information about police from police staffers. Meraj said Sakir al Behna of Khaskarkando, a head constable at the District Police Office, had been feeding him with information for a long time. Behna has been arrested for investigation after Meraj´s statement Tuesday night.
Likewise Meraj has also claimed to have worked as an informer for the National Investigation Bureau for two years on a payroll.
Related story
Dhawal returns to power in Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan city
