Investigation into rape and murder of Nirmala narrowing down: IGP Khanal

Kathmandu–Nepal Police Inspector General Sarbendra Khanal has apprised a parliamentary committee that an investigation into the case relating to the rape and murder of Nirmala Panta of Kanchanpur is narrowing down. 


In a meeting today of the National Assembly's Sustainable Development and Good Governance Committee, the Nepal Police chief said the investigation had been narrowed down, but the Nepal Police was not in the position of predicting the date for a conclusion. He went on to say that the Nepal Police was working with its full strength to reach to a conclusion. 


According to him, investigation process would be easier if no efforts capable of influencing it were made in the past. "But there is no pressure in regard with the case and no pressure would influence the investigation. I am ready to hand over my police uniform to the parliament if any weakness was noticed and proved on my part as the police chief." 


The Upper House committee invited the police chief to the meetig in the context when the case remained as an 'unsolved mystery' even after the three and half months since it happened and there are growing public concerns over a delay in booking the guilty. 


The police chief informed the committee that some police officers were relieved from the posts for their non-professional performance in regard with the handling of the case and the investigation process was going on. As he said, some weakness earlier in the investigation was due to a hurry in disclosing the names of some people taken under control in course of the investigation. 


He further said that police had been succeeding in concluding investigations into 97.5 per cent cases and success had been achieved in cases of heinous crimes. 


Action was taken against those indulged in activities against the national interests. "Security has been strengthened and full alertness has been taken to avoid any untoward incident." 


He said that it would be appropriate to reply about the overall peace, security and good governance affairs by the Home Ministry leadership as well instead of himself alone. 


On the occasion, the committee members expressed their concerns over challenges emerged in the peace, security and good governance sector, advising the government to focus on overall peace and security issues instead of a specific case. 


Committee members questioned the police administration that why it was acting like a toothless body when the rape cases were on the rise and what had caused hurdles for it to investigate the cases objectively. 


Sarita Prasai, Bimala Rai, Ramesh Jung Rayamajhi, Dinanath Sharma and Pramila Kumari Yadav among others drew the attention of the government and police administration towards the growing cases of child abductions, girl rape and murders. Yadav demanded the resignation of security officials failing to ensure security to the public. 


The committee has directed the police chief to find out guilty in the Nirmala's case as soon as possible and bring to the book. 


Committee president Taradevi Bhatta directed the police administration to work with more alertness and be more dutiful to prevent untoward incident in the nation. 
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