Kathmandu, March 7

Kanchanpur District Court today recorded statements of  two of the eight police personnel accused of misleading and botching up the investigation in the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta.

The statements of accused DSP Gyan Bahadur Sethi and Inspector Ekendra Khadka were recorded in the court.

Out of eight defendants, six were produced before the District Court. Police are yet to produce two — former SP Dilli Raj Bista and suspended DSP Angoor GC before the court.  The court will record the statements of other police officers accused of botching up the probe on Sunday.

With, the court action today, six of the eight police personnel who were arrested and presented to the court yesterday will continue to be held in detention for the next minimum two days.

Nirmala’s mother Durga Devi, on January 14, had filed an FIR against eight police officers including former superintendent of police Dilli Raj Bista, deputy superintendent of police Angur GC, DSP Gyan Bahadur Sethi, former inspector Jagadish Bhatta, Inspector Ekendra Khadka, Sub-inspector Ram Singh Dhami, Assistant Sub-inspector Hari  Singha Dhami and Head Constable Chandani Saud, accusing them of botching up the probe and obstructing public justice.

After recording the statements of the accused police personnel, the court will decide if they will be released on bail or general date, or if they are to be sent to judicial custody till the final verdict.

Of the eight accused, former SP Bista and former inspector Bhatta were sacked by the government on the charge of misleading and botching up the investigation. Similarly, remaining six police personnel have been suspended.

Kanchanpur District Attorney Mohan Prasad Joshi said the defendants’ lawyers had first argued that their clients should not be forced to record their statement as it was an old case. He said, “The court however, ruled that the defendants statement should be recorded.

The Office of District Attorney has also filed a case against four police officers for illegally detaining Dilip Singh Bista in connection with the rape and murder of Nirmala Panta and subjecting him to torture to extract confession.

Dilip Singh’s elder brother Khadga Singh Bista, had, on January 14, filed an FIR against former  SP Bista, suspended police officers DSP Angur GC, DSP Sethi and Inspector Khadka accusing them of torturing his brother in police custody.

Dilip Singh was arrested from near the place where Nirmala’s body was found,  more than a month after the rape and murder. Police had claimed his behaviour was suspicious and held him for several days in custody. Dilip Singh’s explanation to human rights activists after being released had suggested that he was waterboarded -while in custody.