Probe 'rape': Panel to govt

KATHMANDU, April 6: The Legislature-Parliament Committee on Women, Children and Social Welfare has directed the government to investigate a case of alleged rape of a woman investigation officer by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) at the National Investigation Department Anesh Singh Thakuri.



In a meeting held on Wednesday, the committee asked the home secretary and the chiefs of Nepal Police and the National Investigation Department to furnish details at the earliest about the incident involving two NID officers . [break]



The committee had invited Home Secretary Dr Gobinda Kusum, Nepal Police chief Ramesh Chanda Thakuri and NID chief Ashok Dev Bhatta to seek details about the alleged incident.



Committee Chairperson Sandhya Devi said they will sit for another meeting on Thursday morning and decide what to do next regarding the case. “We hope to receive necessary details about the incident within a few days. We will then take an appropriate decision,” she told Republica.



The Committee summoned the Nepal Police and the NID chiefs amid media reports that DSP Thakuri made a rape attempt on February 8 against the woman police officer at the NID who was deployed at the official residence of the prime minister at Baluwatar.



Speaking during the meeting, NID chief Bhatta had said that investigations into the case were underway and the guilty would be punished severely. He, however, added that investigations so far did not show any guilt.



Bhatta also argued that media had presented news about the incident wrongly. “No such thing has been seen in the investigation. The woman officer, who was sent there on deputation, has been transferred,” he further said.



On the occasion, Nepal Police chief Chand told the meeting that they have not received any official complaint or petition from the victim´s side. He assured the meeting that they would investigate the case with due priority if the parliamentary committee directs them to do so.



Among other things, the parliamentary committee meeting also held discussions on inter-caste marriage and the implications of such marriages in various Tarai districts including Morang and Kanchanpur. The committee has asked the home ministry for the truth about media reports that police had meted out torture to those opting for inter-caste marriage instead of providing support to such couples.

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