The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday suspended Inspector Laxman Thakuri of Kathmandu Durbarmarg Police Circle, who stands accused of not registering a rape case when the victim herself made complaint at the police station.

Thakuri and Sub-inspector Chandra Bhandari had allegedly tried to settle the case instead of opting formal procedure regarding the complaint. Bhandari has already been suspended.

Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu, had on February recommended the Nepal Police Headquarters to suspend Inspector Laxman Thakuri of Durbarmarg Police Circle after the incident came to light following media reports.

Police spokesperson Manoj Neupane confirmed the suspension order by Home Ministry.

Four men had raped a woman at Durbarmarg-based Landmark Hotel on January 25. One of the men is said to be the woman’s boyfriend. The next day, the woman went to the Durbarmarg Police Station, but Inspector Thakuri refused to register her complaint and told her to settle the issue with the perpetrators of the crime.

The four perpetrators are on the run. Police have intensified the search for them from Friday.