Kathmandu, November 28:

A panel set up by the Supreme Court (SC) two months ago to find out the whereabouts of four missing persons said today that the panel has got clues about them. The four were arrested some years ago by police from Kathmandu.

“We have got clues that two of the four missing persons were arrested by police five years ago,” said judge Lokendra Mallik who is heading the panel. According to him, they have found that the police had held Bipin Bhandari and Dil Bahadur Gurung from Sukedhara some five years ago and they are still missing. Similarly, Rajendra Dhakal was held eight years ago from Tanahun, he said.

“We have met some eyewitnesses and took their statements about their arrests. Based on their statements, the persons who are still missing were held and detained by police with the command of Sub Inspector Bijaya Singh and Bhandari and Gurung were detained by Balaju police but after that, their whereabouts are not unknown,” Mallik said.

“We are doing homework to find out their status and will visit jails and army barracks if needed to grill security officials,” he added.

“The eyewitness told us that police had taken them blindfolded and also by covering by clothes,” said Judge Mallik. The SC had formed the panel to find out their whereabouts. The SC recently assigned the panel to probe the whereabouts of teacher Chakra Bahadur Katuwal who is missing for a few years from Okhaldhunga. He was arrested for being a Maoist supporter.

Police Headquarters and then Royal Nepali Army Headquarters had told the SC that none of their personnel had held the persons.