Three indicted for journalist Poudel's murder

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

JHAPA: After a weeklong investigation into the death of Jhapa-based journalist Yadav Poudel, police today made public a report, in which police have indicted three persons for murder.

Jhapa Police today paraded Yuvaraj Giri (34), Somnath Dhakal (39) and his wife Foolmaya Karki, alias Manju (26), who have been indicted for murder of Poudel. Giri is the prime accused. Dhakal and his wife own Purbanchal Sekuwa Corner and Guest House in Birtamod bus park. Poudel was found dead in front of the guest house on the morning of April 4.

Jhapa SP Tarini Lamsal said Giri had thrown Poudel off the terrace of the guest house. According to the report which police prepared after recording Giri, Dhakal and Manju’s statement, Giri and Poudel had reached the guest house at about 11pm on April 3. The guest house was already closed by then, but Manju had let them in at Giri’s request. “Giri and Poudel had their drinks and danced for a while. Later, Giri had a heated discussion over phone for about 20 minutes with certain Madan Rai who had arrived at the guest house with his henchmen on motorbikes after some time. But Dhakal managed to convince them to return,” said SP Lamsal. “Later, Giri, Poudel and Manju went to the top of the guest house.” Police said according to Manju, she and Giri had reached the terrace first. “When Poudel did not show up, I went down to call him and brought him to the terrace,” the report quoted Manju. “After reaching the terrace, Poudel tried to hug me, which infuriated Giri who held Poudel’s hand and threw him off the terrace. He even twisted my wrist warning me not to reveal the incident. When I rushed down to see Poudel, he was breathing his last.”

Police revealed that Giri and Manju were seeing each other for quite some time.

“We are still investigating into the case from six different angles,” said SP Lamsal. He didn’t say what Dhakal did after sending off Madan and his henchman.

According to Crime Investigation Bureau DSP Jeevan Shrestha, who is here to assist in the investigation, police were yet to find evidence of Madan Rai and his henchmen reaching the hotel. Police said they had also not found Rs 5 lakh that Poudel’s wife claimed to have given him, and his camera. Madan is still at large.