KATHMANDU, Feb 16: Families of chief district officer (CDO) of Bara, Ganesh Bhattarai and Armed Police Force (APF) SP Balaram Pokharel, have demanded an investigation into the road accident that took place in Bara district on January 26.

Stating that the incident took place under mysterious circumstances, the families of the victims demanded an investigation into it. Organizing a press meet on Saturday, brother of CDO Bhattarai, Naresh Bhattarai accused the driver Jagat Narayan Raut Kurmi of the vehicle belonging to District Administration Office (DAO), of his alleged involvement in ‘premeditated’ accident.

Kurmi was driving the DAO vehicle (Na 1 Jha 1633) when it met with the accident, tragically killing SP Pokharel on the spot. The vehicle was also carrying CDO Bhattarai, who sustained critical injuries in the incident and is currently receiving treatment in Kathmandu.

The families have claimed that the accident could have been prevented if the driver had not been negligent. “At least there would not have been any human casualty if the precautions had been adopted”, brother of CDO added.

He said,” It is really shocking for us that current and former top officials of the bureaucracy have made their efforts to release the driver.” The driver has been accused of being involved in a lot of financial irregularities in collaboration with various smugglers and businesspersons misusing CDO Bhattarai's name.

Police started suspecting Kurmi after finding out that the driver who once struggled for managing two square meals is now the owner of luxurious houses in Kalaiya and Anamnagar of Kathmandu. He also owns five bighas of land in Kalaiya Sub-metropolitan city-17.

 
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