Kathmandu, February 3

As high-level police officials are trying to appease public outrage over the performance of Nepal Police, some junior cops seem to be busy tarnishing the image of the security agency.

A joint team of Central Investigation Bureau and Metropolitan Police Crime Division arrested an assistant sub-inspector of Tribhuvan International Airport with 20 tola undeclared gold from his Baluwatar-based rented room yesterday.

According to officials, ASI Kul Bahadur Rai received and took home the gold illegally brought by a Nepali migrant worker from Qatar. He collected the gold from the TIA runway and carried the precious yellow metal to his rented room to help the Qatar returnee dodge the customs point.

On Wednesday, officials arrested sub-inspector Madan Bahadur Malla and constable Manohar Budha for allegedly making off with Rs 400,000 from a gambling berth. According to Metropolitan Police Office, the duo raided a hotel in Kalanki and caught some persons in the act of gambling, but let the suspects off the hook by pocketing the money of the gamblers on Monday. Malla and Budha were stationed in Metropolitan Police Circle, Thankot, and have been suspended for further investigation.

Similarly, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority on Thursday arrested a police constable with bribe money of Rs 18,000 he received from a service-seeker, promising to settle a case related to road accident.

According to CIAA, Umesh Kumar Thapa stationed at Metropolitan Police Sector, Dadhikot, of Bhaktapur was held from Bhat Bhateni Supermarket in Thimi Municipality-9.

MPO recalled Inspector Laxman Singh Thakuri, litigation officer at Metropolitan Police Circle, Durbar Marg, and recommended Nepal Police Headquarters to suspend him for his involvement in reconciling an alleged gang rape victim with the perpetrators without registering the case. DSP Tilak Bharati, MPC in-charge, was also recalled and is under scanner in connection with the ‘gang rape’ at a Durbar Marg-based hotel.

Reports of alleged collusion of police personnel with perpetrators are also coming out in different districts.

Speaking at a programme organised in Kathmandu on Thursday, Inspector General of Police Prakash Aryal admitted weakness on the part of ‘some’ law enforcement officials in the course of combatting crimes and warned them to improve their conduct. He also vowed to initiate legal and departmental action against the guilty.

A high-level official at Nepal Police Headquarters said a strong warning was issued to the police units across the country to keep constant vigil on the activities of on-duty cops and maintain zero tolerance towards any anti-police conduct.