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Kanchanpur rape, murder case: Police headquarters recommends Home Ministry to sack SP Bista
The Nepal Police Headquarters has recommended the Ministry of Home Affairs to dismiss the then Kanchanpur SP Dilli Raj Bista for his negligence in investigating the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta.The Nepal Police Headquarters has recommended the Ministry of Home Affairs to dismiss the then Kanchanpur SP Dilli Raj Bista for his negligence in the investigation of the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta.
Nepal Police spokesperson Shailesh Thapa Chhetri confirmed that IGP Sarbendra Khanal on October 15 sent a letter to Home Ministry recommending dismissal of SP Bista and Inspector Jagdish Bhatta.
“Legal procedures are underway at the request from Nepal Police. Even the accused will be given a chance to speak before they are dismissed,” said Home Secretary Prem Kumar Rai, talking to the Post.
A report of high-level probe committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs had concluded that there were several lapses on the part police while investigating the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Pant in Kanchanpur.
Thirteen-year-old Nirmala Pant found dead in a sugarcane field in Bhimdutta Municipality-18, Kanchanpur, on July 27. A forensic report showed she was raped and strangled to death. The failure to arrest the perpetrators and mishandling of case sparked nationwide protests. A teenager, 17-year-old Sunny Khuna of Bhagatpur, Mahendranagar, was shot dead and 24 people were injured when police opened fire to quell the protests demanding the arrest of the perpetrators in Nirmala’s murder.
IGP Khanal had requested the Home Ministry, through a letter, to dismiss the duo for mishandling the evidence of Nirmala Pant rape and murder case.
Police had detained mentally ill 41-year-old Dilip Singh Bista, a resident of Bhimdutta Municipality-19, and made him public the next day as the main culprit of the incident. However, the police move backfired.
A wave of violent protests followed Dilip Bista’s arrest as the victim’s family and residents accused the police of framing an innocent person to protect the real culprits involved in the heinous crime.
But Dilip Singh Bista was released later after forensic tests showed no evidence of his involvement.
SP Bista was suspended on August 25 and summoned to Nepal Police Headquarters for further investigation into his controversial role.
Meanwhile, the probe panel under AIG Basnyat, which is interrogating the accused police officers, is also said to be submitting its overall report soon.
SP Bista had also been accused as the culprit behind rape and murder of Nirmala Pant but was found innocent after his blood sample didn’t match with the vaginal swab of the victim.
Bista has, however, been accused of mishandling the evidences for which public have been demanding his dismissal from the very beginning.