Prisoner Convicted of Murder Rearrested in Kavre

Kathmandu. Police have rearrested a prisoner serving a life sentence for murder, who had escaped from Central Jail Sundhara during a protest. The prisoner was apprehended in Panchkhal, Kavre.

The arrested individual has been identified as 43-year-old Dhiraj, also known as Motidhan Rai, a permanent resident of Dipshung Rural Municipality Ward No. 4 in Khotang, and currently residing in Shikharpur, Panchkhal Municipality Ward No. 7, Kavre. The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office team apprehended him.

Rai was taken into custody by the police team from Shikharpur, Panchkhal Municipality Ward No. 7, Kavre. Police stated that the arrested Rai has been sent to Central Jail Jagannathdewal Sundhara for necessary legal proceedings.

According to the incident details, on the morning of September 19, 2018 (Bikram Sambat 2075 BS, Bhadra 3), Chhatra Singh Rai, also known as Chhattar Singh Rai, was brutally beaten to death with a bamboo stick inside a pig farm located at Bishnumati Bridge, Tokha Municipality Ward No. 4, Kathmandu. In this murder case, the Kathmandu District Court, in its verdict on October 18, 2019 (Bikram Sambat 2076 BS, Ashwin 1), sentenced Motidhan Rai to life imprisonment, i.e., 25 years in jail.

After the court's verdict, Rai, who was serving his sentence at the Central Jail Bhadra Bandi Griha Sundhara, escaped on August 31, 2024 (Bikram Sambat 2081 BS, Bhadra 24), taking advantage of a protest and clash. Police had intensified their search for him since his escape.

According to Police Superintendent Rameshwar Karki, the Information Officer at the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, a special team, acting on intelligence about the absconding convict, found him while he was in hiding.