In a significant development in the murder case of 24-year-old Tripura student Anjel Chakma, the Dehradun police have intensified their probe to arrest the lone absconding accused, Yagya Awasthi. Authorities now claim to have received credible intelligence from Nepal regarding his possible location.
International Cooperation Intensifies Manhunt
On Friday, a senior police officer involved in the investigation revealed that the Dehradun police had sought formal assistance from the Nepalese government. A letter was submitted via the Ministry of External Affairs to seek cooperation under applicable legal provisions. In response, the Nepal government engaged its Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), the nodal agency for cross-border criminal cases.
The officer stated that since the CIB's involvement, Dehradun police have received four credible inputs about Awasthi's whereabouts. The intelligence suggests he is likely hiding near the border but within Indian territory, having apparently failed to cross over into Nepal.
Raids in Nepal and Conflicting Communications
Acting on the information provided by Indian authorities, the CIB conducted raids at Awasthi's native place in Kanchanpur district, Nepal. However, he was not found there. This indicates a coordinated effort between the two nations' law enforcement agencies.
Interestingly, Kanchanpur SP Khadak Bahadur Khatri told media on Friday that the district police had not received any formal communication directly from Dehradun police. He indicated that actions seemed to have been taken by higher authorities but assured full cooperation from his department in the case.
The Crime and Ongoing Investigation
Confirming the progress, Dehradun SSP Ajai Singh expressed confidence that the police are close to apprehending Awasthi. "Our teams are putting in all their efforts," Singh said. He detailed the accused's alleged role, stating, "He was the one who picked a knife from a food cart and stabbed Anjel in his back, leading to critical injuries in his spinal cord."
Yagya Awasthi, whom police claim is of Nepalese origin and a native of Kanchanpur district, is the only one among six accused yet to be arrested. The other five, including two juveniles, were apprehended on December 14, following the registration of the case on December 12 last year. The incident has drawn attention to cross-border criminal coordination and the mechanisms in place to address such challenges.
