Chief of armed police force shot dead

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan.26: Inspector General of the Armed Police Force (APF) Krishna Mohan Shrestha, 55, his wife Nudup and bodyguard Sub Inspector Surya Regmi were shot dead by unidentified assailants while on a morning walk in Lalitpur this morning at about 7:35.

The government suspects the Maoists terrorists to be behind the killings. Police sources said a person wounded in the leg during the shoot out has been arrested. "The man identified as Krishna Hari Sainju could reveal a lot of information regarding the killing of the IGP and two others," said a police official.

Patan Hospital sources confirmed with The Rising Nepal that a person with bullet injuries on the leg was brought to the hospital by police this morning. After treatment, he was again taken away by the police, the source said.

The three were shot at close range at the Bagdol crossroads on the Ring Road in Lalitpur. The incident site lies about 2.75 kilometres from their residence at Kalanki in Kathmandu. The bodies were first taken to nearby Patan Hospital, where they were declared dead. Then the bodies were taken to the Birendra Police Hospital at Maharajgunj, where the post mortem were carried out.
Although the post mortem reports have not been made public, IGP Shrestha was shot on the head and reportedly died on the spot. Mrs. Shrestha was shot on the chest.

The dead body of IGP Shrestha and his wife are being kept at their residence at Kalanki so that people can pay their last tributes, while Regmi's body lies at the Birendra Police Hospital. Nudup was a teacher at Lincoln School.

"The last rites of IGP Shrestha will be performed tomorrow," said the secretariat of the APF.
The news of IGP Shrestha's death spread like wildfire, and people were stunned and overwhelmed by the killing of such a 'competent' police officer.

Hundreds of people had gathered at the site of the shooting despite the cold and the thick fog. There seemed to be no eyewitnesses, but the local people said they did hear gunshots.

An old woman, whose house lies just in front of the shooting site, said she was sitting by the fire when she heard, which sounded like, gun shots. She peeped through the door but could see nothing. She heard footsteps running east. She and her husband came out only after they heard the voices of people and saw the three bodies on the road.

Another person said he peeped from his window and saw a person staggering. He was trying to take a lift from vehicles going towards Lagankhel. A white vehicle stopped, and he got in. A crowd had gathered at the Patan Hospital after word spread that a person with bullet injuries was in the hospital. The emergency unit was barred for outsiders for about four hours.

One woman said IGP Shrestha was wearing trousers, a jacket and a cap. A police van came after about 15 minutes of the incident and took away the body of the IGP. Soon there was another vehicle that took the bodies of Nudup and Regmi. Although the locals were willing to share what they saw or heard, they refused to reveal their identities.

A police official of the District Police Office, Lalitpur, requesting anonymity, said that they came to know of the incident from a taxi driver. It took us some time to find the place because of the fog, he said.

Shrestha was born in Chainpur of Sankhuwasabha district in eastern Nepal in 2004 B.S. He had joined the police force on Poush 13, 2027 B.S. as police inspector. He was Assistant Inspector General of Police before he was made IGP of the Armed Police Force two years ago. The armed police force was established in 2057 B.S. through an ordinance to control the Maoists' terrorist activities.

Shrestha's ancestral home at Chainpur was also attacked by the Maoist terrorists about eight months ago.

This is the first attack on a high ranking police officer after a Superintendent of Police was shot dead in Lamahi in Dang in mid-west Nepal about a year ago by the Maoist terrorists. The Council of Ministers in its meeting today has condemned the grisly attack. The central security management sub-committee of the National Security Council also met today to make security more effective and reliable, said the Ministry of Defence.

The meeting, which was chaired by Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Pyar Jung Thapa, condemned the "cowardly and inhumane act of the terrorists."

"Security forces are committed to restore peace and order while quelling terrorism from the country," the statement read.

The Home Ministry in another statement called Shrestha an honest and dedicated police officer. The Ministry said security forces have been mobilised at different points of the Kathmandu Valley to hunt for the killers.

However, the Home Ministry declined to reveal details about the incident and whether any arrests had been made.

22 killed in Kavre bus accident, 60 injured

By Our Correspondent

KAVRE (DEUPUR), Jan. 26: At least 16 people were killed Sunday morning when a passenger bus fell 500 feet down a slope from a country road about 20 kilometres east of Kathmandu, however, Nepal Television reported 22 had died as more passengers succumbed to their injuries in hospital.

More than 60 people have been injured in the accident that occurred at Deupur Village Development Committee - 3 of Kavre district. Twelve people died on the spot and others succumbed to their injuries in the nearest hospitals. Sixty-six people were admitted to Shir Memorial Hospital in Banepa and in Dhulikhel for treatment, the police said.

Those who died on the spot were Tol Bahadur Dotel, Rana Bahadur Dotel, Bhotu Shrestha, Suman Dhakal, Bishnu Dhakal, Bishnu Prasad Panta and Parvati Karki of Deupur, Sarita Shrestha of Pachkhal, an unnamed girl child of Nala, a three-year-old child of Jyamdi with name unknown, a 55-year-old man with the surname Phuyal of Dharmathali and his 30-year-old grandson, said Abhushan Timalsina, inspector at district police office Kabhre.

Those who died during treatment include Jamuna Dhakal, one-year-old Rojina Bariya, Sarita Dotel and Rudra Prasad Phuyal of Deupur, Among the injured, Shalik Ram Dhakal, Bishnu Lal Bariya, Dhakku Prasad Dhakal, Muna Dhakal and Laxmi Badiya of Deupur, Makuri Phuyal of Kathmandu, three-year old Namrata Karmacharya of Panauti, Ram Sharan Shrestha of Panchkhal, Radhika Ghimire of Kushdevi and the bus conductor Maila Timilsina were in critical condition, according to Shir Memorial Hospital.

The passenger bus with registration number BA 1 Kha belonging to Helambu Transportation Service was heading towards Banepa from Kathmandu with 82 passengers on board. The accident occurred at around 8.30 am. Twelve passengers were killed on the spot and four others died on the way while they were undergoing treatment in Dhulikhel.

According to Dhulikhel Hospital, Krishna Lal Bariya and Laxmi Bariya who were in critical condition have been referred to Bir Hospital and TU Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu.

Ten people with minor injuries returned home after treatment at Dhulikhel Hospital. Other 34 injured people were still receiving treatment.

After the accident, police from Panchakhal and Kavre district police office and Royal Nepalese Army personnel had reached the spot and launched rescue operations.

Tika Poudel, a local man, said that he heard the screams of passengers in pain and terror as the bus veered off the road and rolled down the slope into a gorge. Poudel who was waiting for a bus and could not board it because of the crowd was happy to escape the accident.

Tributes paid to late chief of armed police

RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan. 26: Prime Minister and Defence Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand paid tributes to Inspector General of Armed Police Krishna Mohan Shrestha by placing flowers on his body at the Birendra Police Hospital, Maharajgunj today.

Prime Minister Chand also extended tributes to Mrs Nudup Shrestha, the wife of Shrestha and Armed Police Sub-Inspector Surya Regmi.

Also paying tributes were Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal, Home Minister Dharma Bahadur Thapa, Minister for Information and Communications Rameshnath Pandey, Minister for Education and Sports Devi Prasad Ojha, other ministers and senior police officers.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has expressed sorrow over the killing of IGP Shrestha, his wife and body guard sub-inspector Surya Regmi while they were on a walk this morning.

In a statement today, the Ministry has also prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls and extended heartfelt sympathies to the members of the bereaved families.

An extensive mobilisation of security forces has been made to nab the terrorists involved in the heinous crime and the security apparatus has been made stronger and effective with a special vigilance in different exit points of the valley, adds the Ministry.

Likewise, the Defence Ministry has expressed profound sorrow over the incident, prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved families.

The meeting of the central security management sub-committee held under the Convenorship of the Chief of the Army Staff with participation of the heads of security bodies strongly denounced the heinous and cowardly act.

It also expressed the determination to give continuity to the special security arrangement that would consolidate the state of law and order and guarantee security of public life.

The statement released by the Ministry says that the naked picture of the terrorist mask worn by the maoists, who talk of readiness for a dialogue on one hand and carry out such brutal and heinous crime on the other, has come to light in the nation and international world.

His Majesty's Government's security force is fully determined to wipe out such terror and maintain peace and tranquillity in the country, adds the statement.

Terror acts not to distract security men from duty

RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan. 26: A meeting of the cabinet held this morning has condemned as terroristic and cowardly the shooting dead of Inspector General of the Armed Police Force Krishna Mohan Shrestha, his wife Nudus Shrestha and bodyguard sub-inspector Surya Regmi by some unidentifed gunmen at Bagdol Pattiya of Lalipur Sub-Municipal Corporation ward No 4 at 7.30 am today while the former were out for a morning walk.

Describing such a cowardly incident as unbecoming of civilisation and deserving of condemnation, the meeting said this deed perpetrated out of a mentality of defeat is the very limit of terrorist offence. The cabinet expressed confidence that the incident would not in the least distract security personnel working for the safeguard of country and democracy and would in the days to come remain actively engaged for peace and security with still stronger will power.

Pointing out that such terroristic and cowardly deeds would not distract the peace-loving Nepalese people, it said His Majesty's Goverment condemns the cruel murder of Inspector General Shrestha, his wife Nudus and bodyguard Regmi and expressed sorrow at the loss of a dedicted, honest and experienced Inspector General who was committed to the nation.

Wishing for the peace of the departed soul, HMG has extended condolences to members of the bereaved families.

Pashmina industry vital for forex earning: Gurung

RSS

LALITPUR, Jan. 26: Assistant Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Jagat Bahadur Gurung has said that the vision of the overall development of the country is impossible without economic progress.

Inaugurating the third annual general meeting of the Nepal Pashmina Industries Association here today, Assistant Minister Gurung said that the economy of the country had been hit by of the tendency of the persons without wisdom, conscience and experience being at the helms of affairs of the country.

Vice-President of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries Chandi Raj Dhakal said that the Pashmina industries playing vital role in earning foreign exchanges and providing employment was the backbone of the economy.

At the programme, vice-president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Jagadeesh Prasad Khetan, President of Nepal Pashmina Industries Association Shankar Prasad Pandey, President of Handicrafts Association of Nepal Kalyan Krishna Tamrakar, President of the Association of Cottage and Small Industries of Nepal Basudev Giri and a host of other speakers expressed their views at the programme.

'Refugee verification to resume after joint meet'

RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan. 26: Minister for Foreign Affairs Narendra Bikram Shah has in a statement here today said that the joint verification teams of Nepal and Bhutan will soon begin categorising the refugees in the Khudunabari Camp whose papers have already been collected and processed.
The categorisation will start following the visit of the Bhutanese Foreign Minister to Nepal to participate in the 12th round of joint ministerial committee meeting, he added.

Minister Shah also said in the statement that during the visit the two sides agreed that the joint ministerial committee headed by the two foreign ministers will meet again in the 13th round, possibly in March, to supervise the work of the joint verification teams and to expedite the task of repatriation of the refugees.

"Nepal and Bhutan both feel that we should not leave the wound festering any longer", stated the statement released by the Foreign Ministry.

Stating that both the countries feel strongly that the SAARC process should continue to go forward and should not be impeded, Minister Shah said Nepal and Bhutan also feel that any initiative or move which is not well thought out and which is made is haste may not bring the desired result at this time.
During the visit, the Foreign Minister also had discussions with the Bhutanese authorities including the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister on the long pending refugee situation. He also received an audience from His Majesty the King of Bhutan.

Govt urged to speed up Jumla reconstruction

RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan. 26: The people of Jumla district have resented the indifferent attitude of the government in the reconstruction of the district devastated by the assault of the Maoists on November 14.

At a press conference organised by the Jumla District Reconstruction Citizens Committee and the District Development Committees Federation here today, attention of the government was drawn towards the people of the district lacking the essential commodities including foodgrains and drugs and the hardship faced by them because of the razed government buildings.

Stating that the government had sanctioned only Rs. 10 million whereas the actual damage was worth over Rs. 150 million, committee convenor Dilli Bahadur Mahat said that as the physical structures of the district had been damaged, the essential services and the decentralisation process were also affected.

In a press release issued on the occasion, it has been stated that the committee constituted by a gathering of the Jumlese had requested the government to reconstruct the government buildings, guarantee law and order, and provide compensation for the damaged buildings but there has been no specific response so far.

Forty common people and 39 security personnel had died, and forty-two houses including seven private ones had been burnt in the assault.

PM expresses condolence

RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan. 26: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has expressed profound sorrow at the cowardly murder of Inspector General of the Armed Police Force Krishna Mohan Shrestha, his wife Nudus Shrestha and bodyguard Surya Regmi by unidentified gunmen while the former were out for a morning walk at Bagdol Pattiya in Lalitpur Sub Municipal Corporation ward No 4 this morning. He has also strongly condemned and denounced the murders.

In a condolence message issued today, Prime Minister Chand said the death of a skilled and talented individual like IGP of the Armed Police Shrestha is a great loss to the nation, adding that his sacrifice and commitment to the nation would always be an inspiration to those who serve the nation and would make them still more committed to the safeguarding of nation and democracy.

Remarking that such cowardly terrorism would not erode the willpower of security personnel in the service of nation and democracy, he has prayed to the almighty for the peace of the departed souls of IGP Shrestha, Mrs Shrestha and bodyguard Sub Inspector Regmi and extended condolences to the bereaved families.

Shrestha an easy-going, friendly executive

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 26: Many people remember Krishna Mohan Shrestha, Inspector General of the Armed Police Force who was shot dead by terrorists this morning, more as an easy-going and friendly executive than a high-ranking police official.

Journalists know him as one police officer of the highest rank who never declined, if he was at hand, to talk to them when there was something important. At receptions and other social functions, he always used to greet the media people and others in the most cordial manner, and, surprisingly, he knew many by their first names.

Journalists, who came across him during their professional assignments, as well as police officials, who worked with him, say he was never arrogant despite his position. This marks him out as a man of quality.

Neighbours and others who used to meet him during his morning walks also found him an amicable person. This could be the reason why he never felt any danger while taking his morning walks without any security save for a lone guard.

They say he used to take his walks every morning on the same route, and many knew what time the IGP would be there. Often it was his youngest daughter, who accompanied IGP Shrestha, but today she had stayed home and her mother had accompanied him. Shrestha along with his wife Nudup and the security guard, police sub-inspector Surya Bahadur Regmi, were killed after they were shot by terrorists lurking in the foggy morning. All of them died on the spot.

Shrestha is survived by his three daughters, two of whom are studying abroad, and an almost 90-year-old -mother.

People, who were shocked and aghast at the assassination of IGP Shrestha, feel that a person of such a high-risk category should not have speculated that nothing could happen to him. Security officials take it as a crucial mistake of walking 'unescorted' and making his routine so obvious.
Shrestha is the highest ranking police official to be assassinated by suspected Maoist terrorists despite promises that they would not target political or government figures.

The terrorists have been killing, maiming and inflicting pain on the common and innocent people in the most brutal way. But with this dastardly act, the terrorists have unmistakably proved that they are now into the politics of assassination.

The Maoists' so-called movement has never been a political one as they have resorted to violence and destruction from the day they took to the jungle, and the killing of Shrestha has fortified the people's belief that the Maoists' only aim is to bring more violence, destruction and tears.

The murder of Shrestha is also a grim reminder that the Maoists do not want a peaceful solution to the problem which they had forcefully burdened on the country. When the government has been saying that it is always ready to resolve the problems through talks, and the political parties and the civil society have almost pleaded with the Maoists to stop their killings, their violent and destructive activities and the Maoists continuing with their killing spree disregarding the call from all sections of the society means is they intend to push the country towards further chaos, destruction and anarchy.