Women who lured Panta held

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Metropolitan Police Crime Division today nabbed the two women who had abetted the abduction of construction contractor Prakash Babu Panta (46).

The arrested are Kanchan Gole (16) from Melung- 4 of Dolakha and Urmila Ale Magar (21) from Bhiman- 2 of Sindhuli, both waitresses at a restaurant. They had gone into hiding after Panta’s abduction and subsequent murder.

Police teams arrested them in Kathmandu and Pokhara, respectively.

Investigators said Gole played a pivotal role in luring Panta to Chabahil-based Greenlight Cabin Restaurant at the behest of restaurant owner Som Bahadur Shrestha (39) of Jhapa, the main accused. His associates took Panta to Magar’s rented room in Koteshwor on March 16, where he was sedated with a cold drink spiked with the drug sizopin. He died on the same day.

“I was not aware that Panta had been held captive. I had a moment with him at the room and offered him a cold drink as instructed by Som Bahadur and his associates. They said I was younger and more beautiful than other women, and used me to serve their interest,” Gole told police. She would often go to Som Bahadur’s restaurant, where Panta was a frequent client.

With the arrest of Gole and Magar, MPCD has rounded up all directly or indirectly involved in the abduction and murder. Earlier, five persons Som Bahadur, Komananda Khadka of Dang, Ratna Bahadur Tamang of Bhojpur, Bhakta Bahadur Tamang of Nuwakot and Dirgharaj Rai of Kavre were arrested and made public.

The abductors had repeatedly sought ransom from Panta’s family members and other contractors after his death saying ‘Panta was in their custody’.

The mystery surrounding the incident unravelled only after the kidnappers arrested on April 26, admitted to killing and burying Panta’s body in Kakani Jungle the next day (March 17) to destroy evidence.

A joint team of MPCD and forensic experts had exhumed the body on Saturday. The decomposing body has been kept in TU Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj for post-mortem.