Former prime minister and convenor of Naya Shakti Party Nepal Baburam Bhattarai has said the government should arrest the police personnel who destroyed evidence to find out the culprits in the Nirmala Panta rape and murder case.
"There has been no reliable investigation even four months after the rape and murder of Nirmala Panta. Lack of any action against those involved in destroying evidence has raised suspicions on top of that," Bhattarai told reporters after meeting parents of Nirmala at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) where her father Yagya Raj Panta is undergoing treatment on Monday.
Bhattarai, who became the first dignitary to visit Yagya Raj at the hospital, stated that the culprits can be found out if those involved in destroying evidence are arrested and investigated in a proper manner.
"Destroying evidence in a conscious manner shows that those destroying the evidence know who the criminals are," he argued. "That the government is protecting them is a matter of huge suspicion. People suspect that responsible persons are implicated in this. They believe that those in power are protecting the criminals. This is not just a suspicion. There is a reason behind that," he elaborated.
Pointing at the estimations that Nirmala was strangulated, he added that people believe that only a trained person can kill a person in such a manner and others cannot do that. "Suspicions go toward those who provide security and are in power. Rape/murder is crime and trying to protect the criminals is an even greater crime," he reasoned.
He said the case has become a national issue and everybody should put pressure on the government for justice. "There must be serious investigation."
He expressed dissatisfaction at lack of action against the police personnel involved in destroying evidence. He opined that sacking is not a punishment befitting such a serious crime. "Action must be taken as per legal provisions."
Bhattarai also handed over Rs 100,000 provided by Anil Pandey and his wife Sabita Pandey (Bhattarai) of Bhimsen rural municipality 1 of Gorkha cutting the expenses of birthday celebrations of their daughter to the Pantas.
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