Inspector General of Nepal Police (IGP) Sarbendra Khanal has remarked that the police personnel, who were negligent in the investigation of rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta of Bhimdutta Municipality-2, Kanchanpur, and the guilty of the gruesome incident cannot get away from the law.

He has expressed his commitment to book the guilty at any cost and to sack the police personnel found careless during the investigation.

“A policeman has recently been suspended for his negligence in the investigation. Others who are found guilty of negligence can even lose their job not only suspension,” he said while inaugurating a programme organised by the National Human Rights Commission. “Either SP or DIG, they will be punished if found guilty,” he said.

He said that there are no rooms for the police personnel to make mistakes.

“Rest assured that stern action will be taken against the criminals. No matter who the criminals are,” Khanal said.

The police chief said he has become sensitive as the Kanchanpur incident has created distrust over police. He added that he has seriously taken the torture inflicted by police to many people during investigation and their misbehavior to the people.

He conceded the irresponsible behavior of some police personnel for problem that has surfaced.

“We have learned a new lesson from the Kanchanpur incident. I urge the locals to help the new investigation team to find the culprit(s),”Khanal said.

Several days after Nirmala’s body was discovered in a sugarcane field on July 27, Kanchanpur police had presented Dilip Singh Bista, a mentally challenged man, as the prime suspect in the crime. But Kanchanpur residents and the family of Nirmala have categorically denied Bista’s role in the case.