Kathmandu, June 11 :

Police have arrested 18 persons from different locations on different charges, including the shooting at Dr Hemang Dixit, principal of the Kathmandu Medical College (KMC).

Police arrested Ganesh KC, 25, of Dhanusha, Santosh Khadka, 29, of Jhapa, Ramchandra Khanal, 39, Man Bahadur Karki, 25, and Jhalak Basnet, 32, of Gorkha, Prakash Chhetri, 27, and Ganesh Jung Ghimire, 67, of Chitwan on charge of shooting at Dr Dixit on May 3.

“Three including mastermind Milan Lama alias Sandip Pathak, 31, of Sindhuli, Akash KC, 26, of Sindhuli and Kedar Shrestha, 27, are still absconding,” said Keshav Adhikari, superintendent of police at the Valley Crime Investigation Branch (VCIB), Hanumandhoka.

Police said the group had also opened fire at Dr Bir Bahan Rana on the KMC premises some two months ago.

Adhikari said the group committed the crime for money. “The group had time and again asked for hefty sum of money from the hospital management before and after the incidents,” Adhikari told reporters at a press meet organised at his office.

They were arrested when some members of the group came to a particular spot to take money from the hospital management.

“We can’t disclose the name of the person who opened fire at Dr Dixit because he has yet to be arrested,” he said adding that Ganesh Karki was driving the motorcycle on which the shooter was a pillon rider.

Others were not physically involved in the crime but assisted in planning and executing it, the police official said.

“Mastermind Lama is learnt to be the member of International Spider Group, an international syndicate of criminals,” Adhikari said and added that he is learnt to be in India for some days.

Police also arrested Home Bahadur Karki, 30, and Jit Bahadur Karki, 25, of Okhaldhunga who are also the members of the group. “The duo were not involved in the shoot out case but were found to be extorting money from different organisations,” he added.

Police also seized cash Rs 100,000, three motorcycles used in shooting at Dr Dixit and Dr Rana.

In a seperate incident, police arrested Tek bahadur Bohara, 19, of Salyan, Ajay Lama, 21, Rajan Lama, 20, and Ganesh Lama, 20, of Nuwakot on charge of looting cash Rs 450,000 from the house of Rekh Bahadur Karki at Pepsicola, KMC-35, one week ago.

Police has seized Rs 15,000 and a motorcycle from them. Another police team from the crime investigation branch of Valley Police arrested Bijay Lama, 26, Dilip Lama, 27, Bijay Lama, 21, Ajay Lama, 23, Anil Lama, 19 on charge of pick pocketing a purse from Jiban Gaudtaula.