KATHMANDU, AUGUST 26

Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand said the committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate the Darchula incident would submit its report soon.

Jay Singh Dhami, 33, of Byas Rural Municipality in Darchula district, had gone missing in the Mahakali River after Indian Seema Surakshya Bal allegedly cut the rope of a tuin (ropeway bridge) that he was using to cross the river on July 30.

During the meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee under the House of Representatives, Home Minister Khand said that the probe committee has been seriously investigating the incident.

He further said preparation of the report was delayed as some members of the committee were out of Kathmandu due to some work. 'A total of 26 people have lost their lives after falling from tuin in the district so far since 1993,' he said. He briefed the committee that the bodies concerned had been directed to construct bridge over the river, replacing the tuin.

'It is the responsibility of the state to save the life of citizens. The government is always serious about saving people's lives,' he said.

Home Minister Khand said Nepal Police would conclude the case of Nirmala Panta and assured that the report would be made public once the investigation was completed.

Nirmala, 13, of Kanchanpur was raped and murdered on 27 July 2018.

Minister Khand added that the government was serious about ending blackmarketing, corruption and other illegal activities in the country. Lawmakers have drawn the attention of the government to the delay in releasing the facts related to the Darchula incident and demanded action against the guilty.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 27 2021, of The Himalayan Times.