Cop at large after selling wife, son

Baitadi, September 5:

Police constable Keshav Nath of Mahendranagar Municipality-9 has been absconding after allegedly selling his wife and a son to a senior citizen in Baitadi district.

Keshav reportedly sold his wife Meena (25) and son Himanshu (5) to Ganga Dutta Nath (60) of Gokuleshwor village development committee-7 of Baitadi district. Keshav’s deed came to light after a complaint against Keshav was lodged at a police office in Baitadi district.

Constable Keshav, who was working in the Babiyachaur area police office in Surkhet, sold his wife Meena along with son Himanshu in the second week of August, according to the complaint. Keshav’s uncle Man Singh Nath reportedly brokered the deal.

The police said they have found a document that suggests Keshav sold his wife Meena and his son Himanshu to Ganga Dutta in the presence of a witness Bir Bahadur Giri of Gokuleshwor VDC. According to Ganga Dutta, Keshav gave Rs 10,000 to his uncle Man Singh as transport fare after selling Meena and her son to him, police said.

Upon coming to know that a case had been lodged against him, Keshav resigned. He has been absconding.

Baitadi police have already informed the Surkhet police about the case, a police source said, adding: “Though the police has summoned Keshav, he is at large.”

The police in Baitadi said they had begun a manhunt to nab Keshav and Man Singh. Witness Bir Bahadur has been released after interrogation. A policeman involved in the investigation said the document did not reveal the amount that Keshav got after selling his wife and son.

Meena accused Ganga Dutta of deceiving her. “He took me to Baitadi saying that he has been transferred there,” she said.

Ganga Dutta has been charged under the Human Trafficking Act, the police said.

Seeking justice, Meena came to Mahendranagar today. She is taking shelter in Maiti Nepal’s office in Mahendranagar, said Rita Bhattarai, the organisation’s coordinator.