We could nab Bhagarathi's murder accused based on three evidences, police say

Kathmandu, 17 February (2021) - The police said that accused of the murder of Bhagarathi Bhatta, 17, was arrested on the basis of three evidences.

Organizing a press meet in Baitadi District Police Office on Wednesday, the police said that the accused was nabbed on the basis of eyewitness's accounts, location tracking and the accused's confession.

The police have arrested Dinesh Bhatta, 16.

"We arrested the accused based on location, eyewitnesses and confession of the accused," Sudurpaschim Province Police Chief DIG Uttam Raj Subedi told the reporters. "The accused kept changing his statements and his activities were suspicious as well."

DIG Subedi said that the police was successful in completing the investigation despite pressures from all sides.

"Since the case is still under investigation, we cannot say whether the murder was committed after rape," DIG Subedi said. "This is merely a preliminary investigation, further inquiries remain."

The police said that other evidences have been sent to forensic lab and further details will transpire after the report comes out.

"We arrested the accused on the basis of strong evidences. We have been investigating his age as well," DIG Subedi said. "We are also looking whether another person is involved or not."

Bhagarathi disappeared on the way home from school on 3 February and her body was found the next day at Lablek Community Forest.