Police recovered Paudel´s body from the porch of Purbanchal Sekuwa Corner at new bus park in Birtamod early Wednesday morning with right hand fractured and blood coming out of his head. [break]
Preliminary investigations have revealed that Paudel, 38-who had been pursuing journalism as a career in Jhapa for over a decade-was thrown from the top of the three-story building after thrashing him.
He does not have any big external injury but doctors conducting his autopsy have found injuries to his head and blood clot in left lung. His ribs are broken with serious chest injury and smashed liver. The post-mortem report has yet to arrive but Mechi Zonal Hospital sources ruled out use of sharp weapon and reasoned that he died after being thrown on a hard surface from a great height.
Police quoting eyewitnesses said six motorcycle-borne unidentified persons killed Paudel. They have yet to know the reason of murder but said the murder was done in a planned manner. “We have taken 16 persons in custody and will surely solve the case,” a police source said.
Paudel, who also worked as a reporter for the local Mechi Times, was busy preparing for the launch of ´Ujyalo Purba´ daily from the start of Nepali New Year for the past few days.
He was with the proposed daily´s publisher and hotelier Yuvaraj Giri since Tuesday afternoon and the duo had reached the District Traffic Police Office at Birtamode Chowk at 10 in the night. They had called inspector Chhabi Raman Bhattarai at the Area Police Office around 250 meters away after staying at the traffic police office for around 15 minutes.
“Paudel had called me at around 10:15 to meet him,” inspector Bhattarai revealed. “I replied that I wouldn´t be able to meet him,” Bhattarai added. The duo then went to the New Bus Park around a kilometer in the east and entered Purbanchal Sekuwa Corner for dinner.
Eyewitnesses said the duo shared a table with owners of the restaurant Somnath Dhakal and his wife Manju. The eyewitnesses said Giri had an altercation over financial dealings on the phone. “If you have guts, come to Purbanchal Sekuwa Corner. I am with journalist Yadav Paudel here,” Giri was quoted as yelling on the phone.
Six persons on two motorcycles arrived sometime after the phone altercation and started to search for the duo at around 12:30 in the night. Giri fled toward the roof of Damak Panchthar Pokhara Guest House and the six assailants pounced on Paudel. Giri called the police at around one to inform about Paudel´s murder. Police found Paudel´s body at Purbanchal Sekuwa Corner while Giri was still hiding on the roof of Damak Panchthar Pokhara Guest House.
Police said Paudel´s body was covered with sand found in front of the room of Dhakal couple. Police have, therefore, arrested Dhakal couple and Giri. Yogesh Ranapaheli of Damak-10, Rojan Ranapaheli of Dharan -18, Gopal Akten of Anarmani-3 and 10 others have been arrested and Chief of Jhapa Police SP Tarini Prasad Lamsal himself is recording their statements.
Meanwhile, Jhapa chapter of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), the umbrella organization of working journalists across the country, suspects that Paudel was killed in a planned manner.
He had recently published a news item about growing prostitution in hotels in the vicinity of the bus park. Police had arrested over a dozen couples from Dhakal´s Fewa Hotel after Paudel´s news was published. The Dhakal couple had continued their business changing the hotel´s name to Purbanchal Sekuwa Corner
Meanwhile, Paudel´s body was cremated at Kankai river later in the day. His 14-year-old son Chhitij lit the funeral pyre in the presence of hundreds of media persons, human rights activists and political activists. He has an elderly mother living alone in Sountha of Sijuwa, Morang, wife and a nine-year-old daughter.
NHRC condemns the killing
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), issuing a statement, demanded action against the guilty and compensation for the victim´s family. It stated that it has already sent a team from its regional office in Biratnagar to investigate the incident.
FNJ has condemned the killing and demanded that the government immediately initiate an investigation into the murder.
A seven-member FNJ team led by Chairman Shiva Gaunle visited the crime scene later in the day. Likewise, FNJ also organized assemblies in all its district offices at 4 pm to mourn the death of Paudel.
Issuing a press statement, the Republica chapter of FNJ has also condemned the killing and asked the government to bring the culprits to book. Similarly, Nepal Press Union, Press Chautari Nepal, Revolutionary Journalists´ Association, Nepal, Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF), Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON), Photojournalist Club, Television Editors´ Guild, Nepal and other media related organizations also condemned the killing.
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