Another Devkota girl ‘kidnapper’ identified

KATHMANDU, Aug 30 - Police on Friday made public the identity of another ringleader involved in the abduction of neurosurgeon Dr Upendra Devkota's daughter from her home on August 3. She was released after a ransom payment of Rs 13 million.

The accused man was identified as Rajesh Chhetri alias Gokul ...

Police said before this Giri was arrested on charges of theft and robbery in 1999 and 2001 respectively. In the robbery case he was freed after serving four years in jail.

Police had established Giri's identity on the basis of information concerning another arrested 'kidnapper', Hem Bahadur Magar. Six masked individuals had kidnap Dr Devkota's daughter from the house of the former health minister in the wee hours after poisoning two dogs and taking security guards under control.

In a recorded conversation played at a press conference, Giri has sought Rs 100 million from Devkota. When Devkota pleaded he did not have that much money, Giri threatened to send the kidnapped girl to India.

Police had launched a secret operation to nab the kidnappers after the Devkota family reported the incident. They subsequently arrested Gurung and established identities of the other accomplices. SSP Upendra Kant Aryal, chief of Metropolitan Police Crime Division, informed that police are giving high priority to nabbing those still on the run. Police have already announced a Rs 50,000 bounty for their arrest.

Meanwhile, the police administration has frozen bank accounts of Rs 1.5 million at different banks and property belonging to the absconding persons-- Sidharth Lama, Krishna Chhara Rai and Raju Thapa.