Kathmandu, November 11

Even two months after a nine-member probe committee was formed under Additional Inspector General of Nepal Police Dhiru Basnyat to probe how police had botched up investigation of the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta, no report has been filed.

The probe panel comprising high level police officials was formed with no deadline for submitting its report.

Rights activists and Nirmala’s parents are looking forward to the report in the hope that investigation of police personnel and officers involved in the initial probe will lead to identification of the culprit/s.

They have also demanded action against police personnel who ‘deliberately destroyed evidence’ and botched up the investigation.

Talking to THT, AIG Basnyat said people were expecting the report ‘too soon’. “We are concerned about bringing a result-oriented report. We cannot present a premature report. It might be late, but we will bring out the fact.”

Basnyat refused to talk about progress in the investigation and said it could not be specified when the report would be presented.

The government has sacked Superintendent of Police Dilliraj Bista and Inspector Jagdish Bhatta after the home ministry’s probe committee submitted its report suggesting police had botched up the initial probe.

The same committee, headed by joint secretary and director general of the Department of Prison Management Hari Prasad Mainali, also implicated six other police personnel leading to their suspension.

They have not been sacked as police are awaiting the Basnyat-led committee’s report.

Criminologist Madhav Prasad Acharya said although investigation could take time, investigation of ‘corruption’ should not be delayed.

“Police should understand the sensitive nature of the case and bring all corrupt police personnel to justice so that the probe could lead to the actual criminals.”

Nepal Police Spokesperson SP Uttam Raj Subedi said that no police personnel would not be spared if the report found them guilty.

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