Bhaskar, a resident of Biratnagar-11, was abducted by a group of four, two of whom have been identified as Debananda Yadav and Shambhu Yadav, Thursday night from VIP road in Biratnagar-12. [break]
Bhaskar was out with his friend Kundan Rai when he was abducted. Debananda had even attacked Kundan with a sword while abducting Bhaskar.
A pall of gloom has descended on Bhaskar´s family following his abduction. Bhaskar´s father Mohan died two years ago. His mother Kiran teaches at a private school. His sister Priyanka is also a private school teacher.
“He (Bhaskar) left home after dinner Thursday night without telling us anything. We have not heard a word from him ever since,” said Priyanka, who came to Morang District Police Office (DPO) on Saturday to lodge a complaint. “I do not know if my brother had enmity with anyone.”
Kundan says he and Bhaskar are friends of Giri´s brother-in-law Anish Raj Tuladhar. They had been helping Giri in recent months.
“We used to courier letters issued by the court to Giri,” Kundan said. Giri, now languishing in a jail in Jhumka of Sunsari district, has been undergoing a trial for allegedly murdering his partner-turned-rival Karan Yadav. Giri was attacked by Youth Force (YF) cadres, apparently mobilized by Youth Association Nepal (YAN) Morang in-charge Parshuram Basnet, while being escorted by the police to Morang district court on June 1.
“Bhaksar had no enmity with those who attacked Giri. He just testified as a witness to the attack on Giri,” Kundan said.
Police are yet to nab Bhaskar´s abductors. “We have intensified our search,” inspector Shiva Shrestha said.
Advocates say Bhaskar´s abduction seems aimed at destroying the proofs against the attackers. They said the government must take the abduction of an eyewitness very seriously. “It is possible that the eyewitness was abducted as it would benefit the defendant,” said an advocate, unwilling to be named, adding, “It would also scare those who are going to testify against the accused.”
Debananda, who was arrested by the police while fleeing after attacking Kundan, is one of the accused in the attack on Giri. Debananda, along with Mukesh Budhathoki, was released by the court a week ago. Other abductors are still absconding.
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