KATHMANDU: The family of Armed Police Force (APF) Sub-Inspector Laxman Prasad Yadav has regained hope of justice after police arrested the main accused in his murder 22 months after the incident.
Pandav Yadav, the victim’s elder brother, said the family had almost lost hope that those involved in the murder would ever be arrested.
“Our hope and trust had completely faded. After the main accused was arrested 22 months later, that hope has returned,” he said.
Yadav was killed while attempting to stop the smuggling of alcohol from India into Nepal.
“The news of the main accused’s arrest has brought us great relief,” Pandav said. “Now, the other people involved in the incident should also be arrested and brought to justice.”
Ranjit Yadav, the victim’s brother-in-law, also said the arrest had strengthened the family’s hope for justice.
“Police protect citizens when they face injustice and bring those responsible to justice. But when a police officer himself is killed, it can affect public trust in the police,” he said. “After 22 months, our almost-dead hope has come alive again.”
He urged the state to arrest everyone involved in the incident and bring them within the legal framework.
What happened to ASI Yadav?
On the basis of information about alcohol being smuggled from India into Nepal, an APF team was deployed at the Nepal-India border in Kachanari, Bariyarpattti Rural Municipality-1, at around 3 am on Mangsir 16, 2081.
The team, deployed from the BOP Badhari Bariyarpattti under the command of SAI Yadav, attempted to stop a Tata Safari with registration number DL 5 CJ 7171.
According to police, the driver of the vehicle hit SAI Yadav, who was on duty, and fled the scene.
Yadav, who sustained serious injuries, died while undergoing treatment. The people travelling in the vehicle also fled following the incident. Police subsequently launched an investigation and began searching for those involved.
Main accused arrested after 22 months
Twenty-two months after the incident, police arrested 37-year-old Mohammad Kurwan Mansuri of Ghodmohana village, Lalbania police station, Madhubani district, Bihar, India.
According to the District Police Office, Siraha, he was arrested Friday from the Nepal-India border area in Kachanari, Bariyarpattti Rural Municipality-1.
Police said Kurwan was the owner and driver of the Tata Safari used in the incident.
According to police, Kurwan and two other people attempted to flee from the border area. A police team deployed from the Maheshpurpatari Area Police Office under the command of Police Inspector Bishal Malla attempted to take them into custody.
Police said one round was fired targeting the police during the incident, following which police fired three rounds in response.
Kurwan sustained injuries to his left elbow and right knee after being hit by police fire.
He was brought to the Provincial Hospital, Siraha, for treatment. Police said his condition is moderate.
‘We will arrest the absconding suspect soon’
Following the arrest of the main accused, District Police Office Siraha Chief SP Basudev Pathak, Armed Police SP Sumang Jung Thapa and other security officials visited Yadav’s family home on Saturday.
During the meeting, they pledged to bring all those involved in the incident within the legal framework.
SP Pathak said police were committed to ensuring justice for the victim’s family by taking all those involved in the incident into legal custody.
“We have arrested the main accused after 22 months. Another person involved in the incident is still absconding,” Pathak said. “We are searching for him and will arrest him soon and bring him within the legal framework to ensure justice for the victim’s family.”
Police said the investigation has been expanded following the arrest of the main accused, while the search for other absconding suspects is continuing.
Word/Photo: Suresh Rai, Siraha/Nepal Photo Library
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