Five-Member Probe Committee Formed to Investigate Into Jajarkot Incident

26 May, Kathmandu : The government has formed a five-member probe committee to investigate into the Jajarkot incident. In today’s National Assembly meeting, Minister for Home Affairs, Ram Bahadur Thapa informed that the five-member probe committee has been formed under coordination of Joint-Secretary of the Home Ministry to carry out investigation into the incident occurred in Jajarkot and Rukum (West) districts over the issue of marriage.

The committee comprises Senior Superintendent of Police, officer of the National Investigation Department, officer of the Office of Attorney General and Under-Secretary of the Home Ministry. The committee has been mandated to submit the report within a month. The incident took place at local Soti on May 23 when Nabaraj BK, 21, of Bheri municipality-4 in Jajarkot with other 18 people had reached Rukum to take Sushma Malla, 17, of Chaurjahari municipality-8 in Rukum (West) to tie the nuptial knot at her urge. The bride side had chased the attendees of groom side towards Bheri River.

According to Minister Thapa, Sudeep Khadka, 21, of Bheri municipality in Jajarkot sustained minor injury in the incident and 12 other members belonging to the groom side had been taken under police control. The bodies of three persons—Nabaraj BK and Tikaram Sunar of Chaurjahari of Rukum (West) and Ganesh Budha, 17, of Bheri municipality of Jajarkot, have been found so far while search for other missing—Lokendra Sunar and Sanju BK of Bheri municipality-1, is underway.

The dead bodies have been kept at Jajarkot Hospital for postmortem. Injured Sudeep Khadka has already been discharged from Mission Hospital, Chaurjahari, after treatment, added Minister Thapa. All the 12 people who were under police control have been handed over to their families. Similarly, police have taken 12 people including bride’s father Bir Bahadur Malla, mother Prakashi Malla, bride Sushma, ward chair Dambar Malla, Santosh Malla, Mohan Pun Magar and Ramesh Mala under control for investigation.

The Home Minister shared that District Administration Office, Jajarkot, and Rukum (West) have been working together to maintain social harmony, racial harmony and peace and security in the riot areas.