Chitwan, January 27

Tika Thapa Magar, 29, alias Sagar, who had managed to escape from the Dillibazaar prison in Kathmandu about 10 days ago, was arrested in Chitwan today.

A resident of Ramechhap, Doramba, was nabbed in front of Om Sai Petrol Pump in Bharatpur Metropolis-1, Ramnagar.

“Following a tip-off, a joint team of Nepal Police’s Crime Division and Chitwan police conducted security check at Ramnagar.  At around 5:10pm two persons coming to Mugling on a bike opened fire on police personnel stationed there. In reply, police fired six shots ,” said District SP Dipak Thapa.

“While the pillion rider managed to escape, the fugitive, who was riding the bike, was arrested with bullet wounds in the thigh and arm,” the police officer said. Meanwhile, Thapa Magar is being brought to Kathmandu for treatment in an ambulance.

Police have seized a pistol and a khukuri from Thapa Magar. Having been arrested on January 10 last year over his involvement in more than a dozen property crimes in the past 10 years or so, he had been remanded to the Dillibazaar prison for further investigation. He had fled from there on January 18.

Meanwhile, SSP Purna Chandra Joshi, spokesperson at Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari, said a probe panel had been formed to investigate the  security lapse at the prison that resulted in Thapa Magar’s escape.