Death of Ilam citizen in Jhapa raises questions about police conduct

Jhapa – The suspicious death of a citizen from Ilam in Birtamod, Jhapa, has raised serious questions about the conduct and sensitivity of the Area Police Office in Anarmani.

The incident has sparked widespread debate over police sensitivity and rescue efforts after Ramkumar Thegim from Ilam was found dead, with his hands tied and a wound on his chin, shortly after being discovered by the police.

Locals and relatives accuse DSP Santosh Pathak, who took command with the declaration ‘I am here to work, give me work’, of mocking the Nepal Police’s motto ‘Police My Friend’ during his tenure with this incident.

Ramkumar Thegim (Limbu) from Fakfokthum Rural Municipality Ward No. 3 in Ilam had come to Jhapa for treatment. However, on the evening of Jestha 15, he suddenly went missing near Greenfield School in Birtamod.

After failing to find him throughout the night, his relatives finally submitted a written request with his description to the Area Police Office in Anarmani for a search on Jestha 16.

Just hours after the request was registered, locals found Thegim at Mahananda Chowk in Birtamod-5. Surprisingly and suspiciously, when found, his hands were tied, and there were bloodstained marks on his body and vest.

In a video shot by locals, he appears semi-conscious, able to state his name and address. Although the police team arrived at the scene after being informed by locals, eyewitnesses claim that this is where police negligence and sluggishness began.

A local resident said, ‘When we found him, his condition was critical, and his hands were tied. We informed the police, they came, but they did not show the seriousness required. The police did not hand him over to his family or relatives. They untied his hands and let him go.’

Despite having a description and request already at the police office, it should have been the police’s primary duty to immediately take the injured and unwell citizen to the hospital for treatment.

However, due to police sluggishness and lack of coordination, Thegim did not receive timely treatment and ultimately died.

Meanwhile, the relatives of the deceased have expressed serious outrage, blaming Thegim’s death on the state’s and police’s indifferent and irresponsible conduct.

This incident has led the new commander of the Area Police Office in Anarmani, DSP Santosh Pathak, to confirm that the person found dead and the one found with tied hands at Mahananda Chowk were the same.

He stated, ‘Our QRT found him. At that time, he was semi-conscious. He said, “I can go to my niece’s place alone,” so our team let him go. Later, when identifying the deceased, it turned out to be him.’

According to the police, he was semi-conscious due to alcohol consumption, with excrement and urine on his body and clothes.

Serious questions are being raised among the public about what kind of ‘work’ the police administration is advocating if it cannot save the life of a local citizen struggling on the street.