Statements yet to be recorded

Dhangadi, August 29

Kanchanpur police have not yet started recording the statements of Roshani Bam and her sister Babita, who were arrested for investigation in the rape and subsequent murder of Nirmala Panta at Bhimdatta Municipality.

Police had arrested Roshani Bam and her sister Babita from Bhimdatta Municipality suspecting their involvement in the murder of Nirmala Panta last Saturday. Both the sisters were remanded to six-day custody by Kanchanpur District Court on Monday.

District Police Office SP Kuber Kathayat said they were yet to start recording the statements of the sisters. “Further investigation is under way, but recording of statements has not started yet,” Kathayat said. The sisters might be remanded to custody again if necessary, according to SP Kathayat. He said nobody could be called guilty until investigation proved so. “Many people may be arrested and freed in this sort of incident, but they cannot be called guilty simply on the ground of their arrest,” SP Kathayat said.

When asked about the involvement of Bhimdatta Municipality Mayor Surendra Bista’s nephew and suspended SP Dilliraj Bista’s son, SP Kathayat said investigation was under way and the facts would come out only after a thorough probe.  “No FIR has been filed against anyone till date,” SP Kathayat clarified.

A police team led by DSP Krishnaraj Ojha has been deployed to investigate the incident. Earlier, a Nepal police team led by Inspector Dipendra Khadka was mobilised to probe the incident. A high level government committee is also investigating.

Meanwhile, Kanchanpur District Administration Office has slashed the curfew time by one hour.

According to the statement issued by Kanchanpur District Administration Office, curfew will be in place from 8:00pm tonight till 3:00am tomorrow.

Earlier, the District Administration Office had clamped curfew from 8:00pm yesterday till 4:00am. Assistant CDO Shankar Bista said that curfew duration was being reduced gradually.