An investigation has been initiated concerning the alleged involvement of both police officers and inmates in the suspicious deaths of two incarcerated prisoners in a state-operated district prison.
Commencing on August 15, the inquiry involves Jail Security In-Charge, Assistant Sub-Inspector Lakshmi Choudhary and other inmates who are implicated in the demise of the prisoners.
According to DSP Birendra Godar of the District Police Office, the investigation is directed at ten police personnel and several inmates, including the primary suspect Chaudhary, in connection with the mysterious demise of two prisoners.
Notably, Choudhary was apprehended on August 13 and a five-day investigation was launched by the district court.
Additionally, the District Court has authorized the arrest of Rajendra Ghimire, the Acting Chief of the Prison, on charges related to torture and the resulting fatality.
The incident occurred on August 9, when 20-year-old Binod Tolangi from Sankhuwasabha, Madi Municipality-5, and 28-year-old Akash Balami, also known as Bikas Shrestha, from Kakani Rural Municipality-7 in Nuwakot, passed away at 6 am due to physical abuse inflicted by prison security personnel.
According to law enforcement, an arrest warrant has been issued for Ghimire, yet his whereabouts remain unknown.
In the ongoing investigation, nine inmates, including Jail Security Guard Ram Kumar Karki, are under scrutiny for their potential involvement in the fatal beating incident. These nine detainees, taken into custody on August 9, include Kumar Shrestha, Anish Sharma, Suman Saru, Tikaraj Chauhan (Tikaram), Sachin Rai, Ram Gurung, Naveen Kumar Rai, and Yogendra Bahadur Gurung.
The prison, with a capacity to hold 25 inmates, currently houses 136 inmates, including eight women. The district police office emphasized that they are probing the potential complicity of other individuals in relation to the incident.
Following the event, a five-member investigative panel convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs on August 9, led by Director Pandey of the Prison Management Department, conducted an on-site inspection from August 11 to August 14.
Furthermore, the Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) conducted a field assessment of the situation from August 11 to August 13. During this evaluation, it was observed that the fatalities were a result of severe mistreatment by security personnel, followed by subsequent maltreatment by fellow inmates.