BAITADI, Feb 14: Police have claimed that the rape and murder of 17-year-old Bhagrathi Bhatta of Chadepani in Dogadakedar Rural Municipality-7, Baitadi was committed by someone familiar with her.
Police have claimed that the investigation has come very close to finding the culprit. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Uttam Subedi, who is in charge of the investigation, said that Bhagrathi was raped and killed by someone she knew, a local she was in contact with.
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“Looking at the geographical location of the scene, it is unlikely that anyone from outside the village would be involved in the incident. The rape and murder was committed by a local who knew her,” said Subedi, who is conducting an investigation in Dogadakedar.
He said that initially the investigation was carried out in a wide circle from all angles in the first phase and now the investigation has been narrowed down as it has entered the second phase. “We will find the culprit very soon and make it public,” he said.
Senior Superintendent of Police Mukesh Singh, spokesperson for Sudur Paschim Province Police Office, said although the case has almost reached the conclusion and further facts and evidence were being gathered. “The police have come to a conclusion, we are in the process of gathering some facts to confirm that,” he told Republica, adding, “The investigation has been narrowed. We will make the arrest once the facts are confirmed.”
The report of the forensic science laboratory is yet to come out. Blood, vaginal swabs samples, mobile phones and other items collected from the incident site have been collected and sent to the Central Police Forensic Science Laboratory for investigation. Singh also claimed that someone familiar was involved in the rape and murder of the teen. He said that the real storyline will come in light after the culprit is found. Police have already questioned several suspects.
Police are also questioning people seen around the site on the day the incident took place. It has been ten days since Bhagrathi's body was found in a jungle on Saturday.
