Even a week after the District Police Office Dailekh arrested five of the accused, the rest are still at large, irrespective of intense and persistent pressure from journalists, human rights activists, civil society groups and political parties to nab all those involved in Thapa´s abduction and murder. [break]
The police are unwilling to arrest Bam Bahadur Khadka (of Katti VDC), Bam Bahadur Khadka (of Chhiudipusakot), Keshav Khadka (of Chhiudipusakot VDC) and Bhaktaram Lamichhane (of Dwari VDC) thanks to the pressure from Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Attorney General Mukti Pradhan, sources claim. Sources even claim that the police are fully aware of the whereabouts of the absconding accused.
While three of the absconding accused -- Khadka duo and Sapkota -- were identified by Thapa´s wife Laxmi in a written complaint that she lodged at the District Police Office of Dailekh on September 22, 2008, Lamichhane´s involvement was revealed only after the arrest of Lachhi Ram Gharti Magar (of Dwari VDC) on January 4. On the basis of Lachhi´s statement, Dailekh police have already arrested Hari Lal Pun (of Dwari VDC), Bir Bahadur KC, Nirak Gharti Magar ( of Baluwatar VDC) and Jay Bahadur Shahi (of Raniban VDC). These four accused were also not identified by Laxmi in her complaint.
Who is where?
As things stand, Bam Bahadur Khadka (of Katti VDC) seems to be the main guilty. In his preliminary statement, Lachhi has also revealed that Khadka, who went by his alias Mukti during the insurgency, took the lead in torturing Thapa. He was a local militia commander when Thapa was ´buried alive´. Multiple police sources claim that Khadka is currently working at UCPN (Maoist) headquarters at Parisdanda, Kathmandu. The police have not dared to arrest him as he is protected by top Maoist leaders.
CARTOON: RAJESH KC
Khadka´s namesake -- Bam Bahadur Khadka (of Chhiudipusakot VDC) -- had invited Thapa to Tola VDC of Dailekh from where Thapa was abducted. According to sources, Khadka, who was known as Arun during the insurgency, runs a shop in Auri at Bagnaha VDC of Bardiya district.
It is learnt that Sapkota is now working in Noida near New Delhi in India. He had fled to India following Lachhi´s arrest. Similarly, Lamichhane is reportedly in Kohalpur of Banke district now. Sources say that Dailekh police have already circulated letters to the concerned district police offices to arrest the absconding accused. But, other police offices have not acted as yet.
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