Chitwan, January 17:

Durga Maya Kumal of Meghauli-2 today handed over her husband Buddhi Bahadur Kumal, 50, who has been accused of rhino poaching, to the Chitwan National Park administration. Kumal was on the wanted list of Park authorities since October 17 on the charge of killing a rhino and selling its horn.

Moved by initiatives taken by a community body and a social worker, Jay Mangal Kumal, Durga Maya handed over her husband to chief conservation officer of the Park Gopal Prasad Upadhyay in the presence of rights activists and media persons. “One who commits crime should be punished, but my family should not be made to suffer because of my husband’s deeds,” Durga Maya said. She added that security men from the national park used to come to their house time and again looking for Kumal after the Park administration pasted a notice in their house on November 6. She added that this caused the family lot of mental distress.

Buddhi Bahadur confessed, “A group of six poachers, including me, had killed a rhino near the Surung river in park area, in mid-January last year.”

When the group was returning after killing the rhino, a bear attacked Buddhi Bahadur, injuring him. After receiving treatment in the Kathmandu-based B & B Hospital, he left for India and remained there for nine months.

He had just returned to Nepal. “Other two members of the group — Bir Bahadur Kumal and Syanu Lama — have been arrested.