Nepal Police have apprehended the main culprit in a case dating back to 1995.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested fugitive Tashi Gurung for murdering an Italian man, Carraro David, in Thamel 21 years after the crime.

An arrest warrant had been issued three weeks after the incident following a police case at the Kathmandu District Court against the individuals involved in the attack.

“The members of Tashi’s gang had been absconding following David’s murder,” said CIB Chief DIG Nawa Raj Silwal. “Eight accused are still on the run.”

According to police, 13 men led by Tashi Gurung had assaulted and killed David at the Thamel-based Reggae Pub following a dispute after they harassed his two friends Antenola Kesraini and Lara Skibina on October 13, 1995. The gang had attacked the Italian with khukuri, knives and iron rods at around 10:30pm. David was rushed to Bir Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police had arrested Gurung last week from Kathmandu. According to police, Tashi had been hiding in various places in Nepal and India. He left for the United States in 1997 after his father bought a passport (No 2961550) with a US visa from one Sandup Ghale for Rs400,000.

During his stay in the US Tashi had again applied for a passport and visa claiming that he had lost it. The new document was issued in the name of Sandup and ever since Tashi had been going around with this name. He holds a US Green Card. Police investigation revealed that he came back to Kathmandu about three years ago.

According to SSP Manoj Neupane of the CIB, Tashi had even acquired a driving licence without producing a citizenship certificate. The verification process showed that the licence belonged to a woman named Chau Maya Limbu of Morang.

“There are no evidences that Tashi ever applied for the Nepali citizenship. The licence bears citizenship number 16312 issued from Gorkha district. We found that the citizenship belongs to Bimala Devi Pokhrel of Gorkha,” said SSP Neupane.

According to Silwal, the number of Italian tourists had dropped sharply following David’s murder as the incident sent a bad message about Nepal in the Italian media.

David’s family members, who had come to Nepal to learn about the incident, would be informed about the investigation. “We have written to the Italian embassy in Delhi to trace David’s family,” said DIG Silwal.

Tashi had already been sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia. Besides, the CIB is preparing to file a case against him on the charge of forgery of government stamps, passport and citizenship.