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Nirmala rape-murder: Police collect DNA samples of four more suspects

Police have collected DNA samples of four more suspects in the ongoing investigation into the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta of Kanchanpur. Nirmala rape-murder: Police collect DNA samples of four more suspects

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Bhawani Bhatta & Samuel Chhetri

Published at : October 30, 2018

Updated at : January 8, 2019 14:10

Kanchanpur

Police have collected DNA samples of four more suspects and sent them to Kathmandu for test, in the ongoing investigation into the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta of Kanchanpur.

DSP Krishna Raj Ojha of the District Police Office, Kanchanpur informed that the collected DNA samples of four suspects have been sent to Kathmandu for the test on Tuesday.

“We have collected and sent the DNA samples of the suspects for test at Kathmandu-based forensic lab,” said DSP Ojha who is also the head of the investigation team, “We collected the samples from the individuals following a lengthy investigation and monitoring.”

DSP Ojha, however, did not made public the names and addresses of the suspects.

Likewise, DSP Ojha further informed that the suspects are under police surveillance adding that the police might take DNA samples from other suspected individuals.

Police September 13 had collected blood samples of suspended Superintendent of Police Dilli Raj Bista, his son Kiran Bista, and Aayush Bista, nephew of Bhimdutta Municipality Mayor Surendra Bista. However, a forensic report found no match between the DNA samples taken from them with that of the victim’s vaginal swab.

Following a widespread criticism for the role of police in the investigation, the then Kanchanpur Police Chief SP Dilli Raj Bista and Inspector Jagdish Bhatta were suspended from duty.

On October 15 Inspector General (IG) Sarbendra Khanal had recommended to the Home Ministry to dismiss both officers for their dubious role in tampering with the evidence in the 13-year-old girl’s rape and murder.

Also read: Suspended police officers deny negligence in investigation

Action against SP Bista soon: Ministry

The recommendation to dismiss the two officers followed analysis of the report submitted by the high-level committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs led by Joint Secretary Hari Prasad Mainali, IG Khanal’s field visit and preliminary briefing of AIG Basnyat.

Following the recommendation, the Home Ministry on October 26 sacked Bista and Bhatta from service with immediate effect for mishandling initial probe into the July rape and murder of Panta.

The Mainali-led committee, formed on August 23 after the police investigation of the incident was found to be dubious and failed to make any progress, had found that the Kanchanpur Police had made several lapses while investigating the rape and murder of 13-year-old Pant in Kanchanpur.

Nirmala Panta of Bhimdutta Municipality in Kanchanpur district was found in a sugarcane field in Bhimdutta Municipality-18 on July 27, a day after she was reported missing. Autopsy report showed that the teenager had been raped and strangulated to death.

Also read: Family mourns, and a country recoils at teen girl’s rape and murder

Nirmala’s parents demand punitive action against Bista and Bhatta

Bhawani Bhatta
Bhawani Bhatta is the Kanchanpur correspondent for Kantipur Publications.

Samuel Chhetri
Samuel Chhetri is an online reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering a wide range of issues, including politics, society, sports, arts and entertainment.