KATHMANDU: The government has formed a five-member probe committee to investigate into the Darchula incident.

It is said that a personnel of Indian Seema Surakshya Bal (SSB) had cut down the ‘tuin’ — rope — at a time when Jay Singh Dhami of Darchula was crossing the Mahakali River using the same tuin. As per a Home Minister-level decision, the probe committee has been formed under leadership of Joint-Secretary of the Home Ministry, Janardan Gautam.

The committee has been asked to submit its report within 10 days after carrying out onsite investigation. Deputy Inspector General of Nepal Police, Purushottam Kandel, Investigation Officer of the National Investigation Department, Hutraj Thapa, Senior Superintendent of Armed Police Force, Suresh Kumar Shrestha, and Assistant Chief District Officer of Darchula, Jyotsana Bhatta, are the members of the probe committee.

Meanwhile, a meeting of chiefs of three security bodies in presence of Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand, Minister of State for Health and Population Umesh Shrestha, and Home Secretary Maheshwor Neupane discussed the issues for the prevention and control of COVID-19.

On the occasion, emphasis was laid to completely follow health safety protocols, to make arrangement of vaccine against COVID-19, to get prepared for prevention and control of COVID-19 and its treatment in view of possibility of the third wave of coronavirus with new variant and to strengthen health institutions.

Similarly, the meeting also directed all the service providing bodies to make arrangement of entry of service recipients at offices only following health safety protocols.