Police probe pending in 380 murders

Kathmandu, April 8- The Valley Police have yet to complete investigation into at least 380 murders and 71 murder bids that took place in the valley and its surroundings in the past 19 years the himalaya times reports.

According to a report prepared by the Litigation Section of the Kathmandu District Police Office, there are 380 murder cases awaiting investigation since 1986.

The report said investigation into 11 murder cases each of 2005 and 2004, 17 cases of 2003, 19 of 2002 and 15 of 2001 are still pending.The report said police has yet to complete investigation into 15 murder cases that took place in 2000, nine murder cases in 1999, seven cases each in 1998 and 1997 and nine cases in 1996.

“We have been able to keep records of cases since 1986 only because we don’t have the files of earlier cases,” Shyam Gyawali, inspector of the section, said. The Valley Police is also yet to complete investigation into 71 cases of attempt to murder, he added.

“In all the cases, the police has failed to identify the murderers,” according to the report. “In cases of attempt to murder, the police has failed to nab the culprits,” Gyawali added.

Deepak Ranjit, Superintendent of Police at the Valley Crime Investigation Branch (VCIB), Hanumandhoka, said that police have suspended investigation into most of the cases because the investigating police personnel have got new cases to solve. “The VCIB, however, is still keeping an eye on some important murder cases,” he added.

“Discontinuation of investigation is also due to lack of manpower. Those who were earlier assigned to do the job have either retired or have been transferred and got new cases to solve. Others officers have been assigned to their old cases,” he said.