After the body was found, the deceased's relatives and local residents questioned the role of the police in the incident, demanding an impartial investigation, action against the police officers who chased the teenager, and appropriate compensation for the family. They blocked the road and chanted slogans, refusing to allow the body to be taken for post-mortem.
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The body of 17-year-old Manjit Kumar Yadav of Jahada Rural Municipality-1, Morang, who had fled after being accused of carrying marijuana, was found in a pond three days later. As a result, Bhediyari remained tense throughout Friday. There was a clash with the police when locals and relatives obstructed the process of taking the body for post-mortem. Locals have demanded an impartial investigation into the incident, action against the police involved, and compensation for the deceased's family. Morang police, however, issued a press release claiming that the teenager drowned in the pond while fleeing out of fear of being arrested with drugs. Let us understand the incident through five questions and answers:
What is the incident where the police chased someone calling them a marijuana smuggler?
According to the District Police Office, Morang, on Wednesday, 23rd Asar, police received information that two people were coming towards Nepal on an Indian motorcycle with registration number BR 50 AL 3678, carrying marijuana, in Biratnagar–18, Bhediyari. Shortly after, two individuals were seen on that motorcycle in a suspicious manner, and a team from the temporary police post in Bhediyari stopped them for inspection.
When the police tried to stop the motorcycle, the driver, 17-year-old Manjit Kumar Yadav of Biratnagar-18, Bhediyari, fled, while the pillion rider, 41-year-old Shivdhar Yadav of Nagra Panchayat–5, Supaul District, India, was taken into custody. Police claim that 6 kilos and 130 grams of marijuana were recovered from his bag.
How did the news come out that the teenager fled and jumped into the pond?
According to the police press release, the motorcycle driver, 17-year-old Manjit Kumar Yadav of Jahada Rural Municipality–2, Morang, was reported by locals to have entered a pond located about 4 kilometers southeast while fleeing from the police. After that, a search was conducted from the evening of 23rd to 25th Asar with the participation of Nepal Police, Armed Police, and locals. However, on Friday morning at around 10:50, locals saw Manjit's body floating in the same pond. According to his relative Rajdeep Yadav, he jumped into the pond to save his life after being chased by the police.
Why did locals and relatives protest?
After the body was found, the deceased's relatives and locals questioned the role of the police in the incident, demanding an impartial investigation, action against the police who chased the teenager, and appropriate compensation for the family. They blocked the road and chanted slogans, not allowing the body to be taken for post-mortem. As the situation became tense, the police not only used batons but also fired warning shots. Both Nepal Police and Armed Police fired a dozen rounds each into the air.
What is the police's claim about the incident?
According to police spokesperson DSP Makendrakumar Mishra, Manjit was the driver of the motorcycle carrying drugs, entered the pond while fleeing after seeing the police, and his body was found three days later during the search. Police stated that an investigation is ongoing against Shivdhar Yadav, who was arrested, under the Narcotics Control Act, and further investigation into the incident is underway. Also, the police had briefly detained and released the deceased's relative Rajdeep Yadav on charges of pelting stones at security personnel.
What are the statements and claims of locals and relatives regarding the incident?
Locals and the deceased's relatives have questioned the police's claims, demanding an independent and impartial investigation into the incident, action against the police involved, the facts to be made public, and appropriate compensation for the deceased's family. They claim that the teenager died because of the police chase and have warned that they will continue their protest until legal action is taken against those responsible. The deceased's body has been taken to Koshi Hospital for post-mortem. Police have stated that the body will be handed over to the family after the post-mortem.
