The government has formed a new nine-member committee under DIG Dhiru Basnyat to investigate the role of police officers involved in the probe of rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta.

"The high powered probe committee was formed after the role and activities of the police officers involved in the investigation of rape and murder of Panta," said Nepal Police Spokesperson Shailesh Thapa Chhetri. SSP Niraj Bahadur Shahi, SP Uttam Subedi and investigation expert police officers are in the committee. 

Thapa said the committee has been mandated to investigate and submit its report without fixing a deadline. 

Earlier, a committee was formed under Uttam Subedi to look into the rape and murder of Pant in Kanchanpur that sparked nationwide protests. Speaking to the Post, Basnet, also recommended for the AIG post, said, “I have just received the letter. We will start the investigation from a new perspective following a discussion.”

The Home Ministry on Saturday suspended five officials, including two DSPs, as per the report tabled by a high-level probe committee under joint secretary Hari Prasad Mainali.

Nirmala was found dead in a sugarcane field close to her home on July 27. A forensic report showed that she was raped and strangled to death.