The committee, which began work today, has been given seven days to submit its report.
What you should know
A committee formed to investigate the death of local Vijay Sah in a shooting by the Armed Police Force in Laukahi, Sunsari has begun work.
A meeting held at the District Administration Office on Thursday between the deceased's family, local people's representatives and security officials agreed to form a committee to investigate the incident by providing one lakh rupees to the deceased's family immediately. Immediately after that, a committee was formed under the coordination of Assistant Chief District Officer of Sunsari Ghanshyam Neupane, DSP Chandra Bahadur Khadka of the District Police Office, Sunsari, and Investigation Officer Sabina Khanal of the National Investigation Department, Sunsari.
The committee has started its work from today. The committee has been given time to submit its report within seven days. The investigation has been started by calling the Armed Forces Constable Nawaraj Khatiwada, who opened fire on Saha, to the District Police Office for investigation. The committee is also preparing to take statements from other security personnel involved in the incident.
A member of the committee who will also question the deceased's family, eyewitnesses and locals informed that after receiving the investigation report, action will be taken if it is found that the death was due to the negligence of the security officer and the victim's family will be recommended to the Ministry of Home Affairs for relief and compensation as per the prevailing rules.
Meanwhile, the Armed Police Force Barah Bahini Pakali is going to recall the unit including Police Inspector Manish Kumar Katuwal of BOP Laukahi. The team will be recalled after the postmortem report of the deceased is received and the last rites are performed, informed DIG Kumar Neupane of Barah Bahini Pakali. 'The team at Laukahi BOP will return by evening and the unit will be deployed at that place under the leadership of another inspector,' he said.
A three-member investigation committee has also been formed under the leadership of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rabinraj Karnajit of the Armed Police Force Headquarters. The committee includes SP Dinesh Basnet of Koshi Province No. 1 Bahini and DSP Bhuwan Bhandari of the Armed Police Force's Law Directorate. The committee will submit a report after investigating the facts.
45-year-old Sah died on the spot when the Armed Police Force, deployed to control smuggling, opened fire at around 1 am on Wednesday. The Armed Police Force claims that he died in a double encounter while smuggling goods from the border area in two/three whistle safaris and auto rickshaws. However, the deceased's family and locals have denied this.
