“Police investigators as well as the media suspect that someone within the hospital must have been helping abet the abduction,” Shrestha told Republica in an interview. “I am definitely ready to cooperate with the investigation.” [break]
Dr Shrestha also urged media to unearth the facts about his abduction. His statement comes a few days after the police investigation team claimed in a post-incident report that a criminal gang purportedly led by one Bhimsen Pandit kidnapped the doctor and held him hostage in the capital.
The police report did not at all touch on hospital management issues and the investigative officials said it was not their mandate to go beyond the hard facts of the case.
Dr Shrestha was abducted from Chitwan on May 18 and released on June 5.
He says he still receives frequent threats. Trying to recover from his trauma, he now has a completely different life style and says he remains alert at every moment. Since his release, police have been providing him round-the-clock personal security.
Dr Shrestha acknowledges the support he received from many quarters for his release but regrets that ´a few had their own interests even at that time´.
“I have explained whatever I know to the chief district officer, investigative officials and police headquarters,” he said, requesting not to harbor any questions and yet declaring that he was ready to speak on matters beneficial to the general public.
Perplexed to learn that he was held in the capital for so many days, he said it raised questions about the country´s security policy and capabilities.
He expressed satisfaction that police arrested some of the alleged kidnappers and that even the judiciary showed its responsiveness in taking action against a judge who had released the same kidnappers in connection with some previous criminal cases.
What has also pained the acclaimed surgeon was that the ransom for his release landed in the hands of notorious ´dons´ of foreign origin instead of Nepalese. “Had the ransom fallen into Nepalese hands, I might not have felt so bad,” he said.
Dr Shrestha also said that even though he would not find complete satisfaction until the entire criminal racket involved in his abduction is punished, he has already started working for the betterment of his hospital. “I have started bringing about a more efficient management and have just formed a new managerial team,” he added.
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