According to DSP Kuber Kathayat, Chief of District Police Office of Darchula, the police headquarters has issued an official warning to assistant sub inspector Jaman Budhathoki, who has been accused of helping smugglers to smuggle tiger skins and bones to Tibet through Tinkar border point. [break]Another policeman has also faced a warning from the headquarters but DSP Kathayat did not reveal his name.
Budhathoki, who is in-charge of Chhangru Police Post in Darchula, had allegedly allowed smugglers to enter Tibet by taking bribe from them on October 26. When the case of smuggling and bribery was reported in the media, a probe committee was formed by the Darchula police to look into the matter.
The committee led by police inspector Laxman Khadka had found two policemen including Budhathoki guilty and recommended department actions against them. “The recommendations were forwarded to the headquarters,” said DSP Kathayat. “The headquarters took actions against them as per the recommendations.”
Departmental actions taken by the headquarter mean that Budhathoki may be barred from being promoted for a certain period in future.
On November 5 -- ten days after the alleged smuggling and bribery took place -- two people were arrested with four leopard skins and over 700 kilos of leopard bones. Prem Tamang and Ganesh Lothyal, who were arrested in Rapla VDC-8 of Darchula district, had also revealed that Budhathoki connived with smugglers.
“Tamang and Lothyal´s statements also helped the probe committee recommend departmental actions against Budhathoki,” said DSP Kadayat.
However, Budhathoki has refuted all the charges. “I was not at the Chhangru post when the reported incident took place. I do not know who helped smugglers when I was away in the district headquarters,” Budhathoki said. He said it was unfair to hold him guilty for an incident that took place when he was not on duty. However, DSP Kathayat maintained that Budhathoki was held guilty as he was in-charge of Chhangru post.
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