Lawmakers have slammed Nepal Police for failing to arrest those involved in rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta.
They expressed displeasure with IGP Sarbendra Khanal, who reached the meeting of Sustainable Development and Good Governance Committee of the parliament to brief about the case on Monday, and advised the leadership to resign and pave the way for more capable officers.
"Do resign if you cannot find the murderers. We will appoint capable officers," National Assembly member of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) Pramila Kumari said. "You can't find the murderers and frame innocent ones," she accused.
Lawmaker of the ruling CPN Dina Nath Sharma advised IGP Khanal to reveal if someone is interfering in investigation or the crime has been politicized.
IGP Khanal, in response, claimed that he has not been able to sleep due to the incident. "I have not been able to sleep when the criminals have not been found. IGP and Nepal Police both are very serious about this case. We have been doing our level best. We have not been even a bit unprofessional," he stated. "There is no pressure. We have not and will not be influenced. I am at the end of my career and will not blot my uniform."
He assured that the police will not frame any innocent person. "There has been problem when names of the persons brought for investigation have been revealed," he added. "If you feel the IGP has done anything bad, call me in the parliament and defrock me."
He argued that the whole organization should not be judged on the basis of a single incident. "We have only recently received a good governance award at the international level. We should not evaluate the whole police force on the basis of a single incident."
Lawmaker Mukta Kumari Yadav shared her own incident in the meeting. "My son, who had gone to a neighboring house, was murdered on March 16. The police created a field report terming it an accident even though he had a wound by sharp weapon in his hand," Yadav reminisced struggling to hold back tears. "IGP Sir, what is the progress in investigation of my son's murder?"
IGP Khanal did not answer Yadav's question.
