DHANGADHI: Over ninety days have passed since 13-year-old Nirmala Panta from Bhimdattanagar muncipality was raped and murdered. Government has, so far, deployed over half-a-dozen probe committees in Bhimdattanagar, albeit reaching no concrete or even near complete conclusion thus far. “The chances of justice being delivered are getting slimmer as days pass by. There is no progress whatsoever as the government does not seem capable of conducting investigations leading to identification and punishment of the culprit(s),” said Nirmala’s father, Ekraj Panta. We’re not only disappointed; our hopes are slowly fading away too. There are no signs that the culprit will be brought to books,” added the helpless, hopeless father. Panta further stated that sacking of negligent investigation officers does not suffice. For his daughter to find peace, the culprit must be identified, tried and punished. SP Dilli Raj Bista along with Inspector Jagadish Bhatta were terminated from their service on Thursday after the Police Headquarters requested the Home Ministry to release the duo for gross negligence during investigations. According to the police, investigations are being conducted from various angles. Over 250 people have been zeroed in. Yet, they are far away from reaching a conclusion. Probe officials have not been able to state “How can we claim the time frame for conclusion of search and query? We cannot guarantee we will finish the case by so and so time,” Investigating officer at the District Police Office, Deputy Superintendent of Police Krishna Raj Ojha said. Nirmala went missing on July 26, 93 days ago. He body was found, raped and lifeless, at a sugarcane field in Bhimdattanagar, on July 27. The Home Minister on October 4 had expressed commitment to take action against the criminal. Three weeks later, two weeks from the deadline, the question looms with more uncertainty than ever- will there ever be #JusticeForNirmala?