Police officer sent to remand in Kailali prison death case

Dhangadhi: Deputy Inspector of Nepal Police Harjit Nath, arrested in connection with a custodial death at the District Jail, Kailali, has been sent to jail for remand following a closed-door hearing.

Chief Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Kailali, Bal Narsingh Rana, confirmed that the District Court issued the remand order against Nath.

The case involves the death of 28-year-old Harish Singh Pali of Bhageshwor Rural Municipality-5, Dadeldhura, who was convicted in a banking offence. Pali was found unconscious in the prison toilet on Ashar 2 and later died during treatment at Seti Provincial Hospital.

Pali had been arrested in Dadeldhura on Jestha 29 and brought to Dhangadhi on Jestha 30 by Kailali police. Due to the court holiday on Jestha 31 (Saturday), he was presented before the court only on Asar 1, and was sent to the District Jail the same day.

Nath, who had filed the banking offence case against Pali, was named the plaintiff. Pali’s wife, Janaki Sawad, later lodged a complaint alleging that her husband was beaten to death in jail as part of a plan orchestrated by Nath.

Following the complaint, police initiated an investigation and arrested Nath. In the previous case filed by Nath, the court had sentenced Pali to 10 days in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 200,000 in Falgun 2080 BS.