No sparing Santosh killers: PM

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Saturday drove to Gothatar to console the bereaved family members of a nine-year-old kid who was killed on Wednesday’s shoot-out and reassured them that the hitmen will be brought to book, irrespective of their affiliation with any political party.

The PM met the grieving parents of Santosh Karki -- Sambhu Karki and Saraswati Karki-- and reassured them of providing a relief package, including the expenses for their son’s final rites.

“The government and I myself is saddened by the murder of your dear child in cold blood. Don’t worry! We are with you. The culprits will be brought to books,” he assured the family members.

PM Nepal told the bereaved family that the government would provide support to set up a trust after the deceased’s name.

Santosh, a second grader at a local school was killed after being caught in a shoot-out while he was returning home from his school after taking part in Saraswati Puja.

A Joint Struggle Committee formed to pressurise the government to meet its demands is yet to receive the body from the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital at Maharajgunj.

They have demanded that the government take stringent action against the culprits and ensure peace and security, end the culture of impunity and provide adequate relief to the victim’s family.

The committee has also warned of continuing their protest until the demands are fully met and murderers are booked for the heneous crime.

PM Nepal said that the government was concerned about the incident and had launched a massive manhunt to track down the culprits. Referring to the alleged Maoist involvement in the incident, he said, “The government wouldn’t let the criminals off the hook no matter which party they belong to. I have taken up the issue with vice-chairman of UCPN- Maoist Narayankaji Shrestha ‘Prakash’ “.

Ratna Lama—father of Furwa, Kchhiring and Palten who hired hitmen to teach the lesson to his neighbours—is said to be a Maoist leader, who hails from Sindhupalchwok district, a claim the UCPN-M is yet to clarify.