Kathmandu, October 27

Nepali Congress President and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today accused the government of protecting the culprit(s) of the rape and murder of Nirmala Panta of Bhimdatta Municipality, Kanchanpur.

Speaking at programme organised to mark the 65th founding anniversary of Nepal Tarun Dal, a youth wing of the Nepali Congress, Deuba said murderers and rapists did not belong to any party or organisation. “Whoever the perpetrators are, the government must bring them to book,” he added.  The government recently sacked two suspended police officials — Superintendent of Police Dilliraj Bista and Inspector Jagdish Bhatta  — for botching up the investigation into Nirmala’s rape and murder.

President of Nepal Tarun Dal Jit Jung Basnet said they would vehemently criticise the wrongdoings of the government. He added that  NepalTarun Dal would work for the protection of democratic values, stability and development. Nepal Tarun Dal was established on October 26 1953.