Chapter 1
9th Jan, 2019
It was a cold January morning of 2019 in the beautiful tourist town of Pokhara. Inspector Bachha Yadav was in his deep sleep in his official quarter at Bagar, dreaming of his visit to his ancestral home in Siraha in the Terai plains. He had planned his visit next week. Originally born in the Terai, but brought up in Pokhara due to his father's job, he was not much fond of the winter season.
Suddenly, his mobile phone rang up and disturbed his sound sleep.
Unwillingly, he opened his eyes and saw the number on his phone. It was 6am and the call was from one of his hawaldaars Hari Krishna Bastola.
"Tell me Hari, why are you disturbing me so early in the morning?" Bachha Yadav said in an irritating voice.
"Sir, sir….! A dead body…! A dead body of a restaurant owner!" said Hari Krishna, in a panic stricken voice. "Sir, the dead body is of the owner of Café Pokhara, a restaurant at Chipledhunga," said Hari and "DSP sir (District Superintendent of Police) wants you to handle this case," he further added.
"Why is this DSP always after me? Why is he trying to ruin my holidays? I have not visited my parents for last 6 months? Aren't there other officers in the whole department?" he muttered under his breath.
"Ok then, call Sub Inspector Bishnu Thapa. Ask him to secure the crime scene. Don't let anybody touch the body or surroundings. And ask him to prepare a Preliminary Crime Scene report," said Bachha Yadav in a single breath. "I will just reach there within a few minutes."
He got up from his bed cursing his profession. His maid had already arrived. He asked her for a cup of tea. He looked outside from his window. He could see fog covering the base of Machhapuchere Himal and few rays of sun over its peak. He then put on his thermo-coat to protect himself from the assault of cold morning and uniform over it. He gulped tea in a hurry and came outside his quarter. As soon as he came out of his room, a cold breeze of air went straight through his ears giving a chilling sensation to his heart.
An old Royal Enfield bike was waiting for him outside. He started kicking his bike to start. It took 18-20 kicks to start it, which was a routine for him. He cursed the corrupt government system for that.
"These illiterate and corrupt political leaders…! They ride expensive imported vehicles on our tax money, and provide a government employee 10yr old motorcycle which hardly starts in winter season!" He cursed the politicians for that pathetic condition he encountered everytime.
Then he headed straight towards his destination. He took a route through PN Campus to Nadipur, then Mahendrapool to Chipledhunga. He arrived there in about 15 minutes. His fingers were frozen cold despite his gloves on. He rubbed his hands to get it warmed.
There was a huge crowd outside the compound wall. Few people were trying to peep inside through the gate. Few journalists could be seen taking the photographs of the house. Few could be heard speculating about what might have happened inside. These were the norms of this tourist town in any incident.
SI Bishnu Thapa was already there waiting for him outside the compound gate. SI Bishnu greeted him with Jay Nepal. The whole crowd of public looked at his entry with a moment of silence.
Bachha Yadav was a tall, dark complexioned handsome guy in his early 40s with a height of around six feet and a thin moustache. He is usually seen with black Rayban goggles during the day. With his looks, personality and police uniform, he appeared no less than a South Indian movie hero.
"Ok Bishnu, tell me. What all had happened here? Explain me," inspector Yadav asked as he entered inside the gate.
"Sir, the dead person is Ramesh Shrestha. He was 30 years old. No children. Living alone. He was staying away from his wife. Separated, but not divorced. Some familial disputes sir. Wife Divya lives in Kathmandu now."
"He is the owner of this Café Pokhara. The lower three floors are occupied by restaurant and he lives on the top floor. He has a maid to help him clean the house. He eats breakfast and lunch from his own restaurant. He is mostly outside in the evening with his friends and takes dinner outside."
"Who first saw the body?" asked Bachha.
"We got a call from his friend Akash Batajoo at around 5:20am today morning on our helpline 100. They had planned a trip to Lumbini today morning at 5:00am by their own vehicle. First his friend called him from his home at 4:30am on his mobile. As he did not respond after 4-5 calls, he came here at 5:00am and knocked at the door. Till 5:15am he kept on calling, even the neighbors were disturbed because of the noise. Then they decided to call the police as they became suspicious."
"After we came, a big crowd had already gathered. We called the Ward Chairman and members, and few of his neighbors. We went upstairs and then broke the door in their presence. The door had a lock which can be locked both from inside and outside. We secured the scene. Took photographs…. I have prepared a preliminary Crime scene report. I have already recorded the statement given by Mr Akash. I have planned to send the body for Post Mortem study and toxicological analysis," added Bishnu.
'Ok, that's fine.' Let's go upstairs; I want to have a look at the body and the scene.'
"Did you talk to the neighbours? Did they notice anything suspicious in the past few days? Did you talk to his friend Akash in detail?" Bachha Yadav further added while going upstairs.
"Inform his relatives and wife, and if they aren't available soon take signatory from Ward Chairman and neighbours; and send the body for post mortem investigation," Bachha Yadav instructed him further.
They went three floors up and enter the main hall. Facing east was the door of the bed room. The lock was broken. SI Thapa explained that the door was broken by hawaldaar Bastola. Outside the bedroom was Mr Batajoo with tears in his eyes. SI Thapa introduced Inspector Yadav to him.
"Mr Batajoo, we are going to investigate this case. We will ask for your help if needed. But, don't leave Pokhara without informing our department."
"You'll get a call when your help is needed in this case. You may leave now."
"Ok sir," Mr Batajoo nodded his head and left.
"I don't want any unnecessary visitors in Police investigation scene. Neither relatives, nor journalists," Yadav said to a nearby constable. The constable nodded.
He then looked at the body, which was lying comfortably in bed as if in deep sleep. The window had curtains with few rays of morning sun coming inside from the gaps. The window had grills from outside, so there was no possibility of anyone entering inside. There was nothing suspicious inside the room.
"Sir, there are no signs of struggle or fight. No money, jewelry or any precious items has been stolen. The door was locked. There are metal grills on the window. There is no other way in or out except this door. No suicide note. No poison bottles. No frothing from mouth. So, to me it doesn't look like any unnatural death or homicide. It's an open and shot case. He must have died a natural cause," SI Thapa gave his verdict to Inspector Yadav.
"I will prepare a final report and close this case as soon as the Post mortem report comes," SI Thapa showed his typical government employee mentality. "You can enjoy vacation with your family without any tension, Sir."
"We can't arrive at a conclusion right now Thapa!" Inspector Yadav uttered his dissatisfaction.
"Let's wait for the full investigation report and post mortem report along with toxicological analysis before we hurry to arrive at a conclusion. A person is dead, Thapa! We must be serious in such cases."
"Thapa, talk to his wife, close relatives, friends and his friend Akash. Include their statements in the final report. Their statements will be important in closing the case whatever be the cause of death."
"Ok Sir! Jay Nepal."
"Ok Thapa. I will go and talk with DSP sir regarding my sanctioned vacation."
***
It was already 9:30am, so he headed straight to District Police Office (DPO), Kaski, Gairapatan. He planned to have his brunch there at office canteen only. At the office parking area he parked his bike and went straight to the canteen. From there he called the receptionist. From the other side of the phone Constable Meena replied in her usual sexy voice.
"Hello, how may I help you?"
"Meena, this is inspector Yadav."
"Jay Nepal Sir. How may I help you?"
"Has DSP sir arrived at the office?"
"No sir! Not yet."
"I am here in the canteen. Let me know when he comes."
"Ok sir. Jay Nepal."
Inspector Yadav then ordered Nepali Thali set for brunch. He was imagining holidays in his hometown and beautiful moments with his wife. After 10minutes his meal arrived. After finishing his meal, he took out his favourite brand of Surya lights and started smoking. As he was halfway through smoking, he got a call from the reception on his mobile.
"Jay Nepal sir. Meena speaking. DSP sir has arrived sir."
He then quickly gulped all the smoke in one breath, took a mint flavored toffee from the counter and rushed towards the DSP chamber.
"Jay Nepal sir," Inspector Yadav saluted DSP Balbir Tamang in a typical Nepali tradition followed for decades.
"Jay Nepal, Yadav." DSP Tamang signaled him to sit on the chair placed opposite to his table.
"Yadav, tell me, what is the progress made in the morning's case?"
"Investigation has just started sir. Very difficult to arrive at the conclusion right now. But, for now it looks like a natural death. There are no evidences to point this death from another angle," replied Yadav. "Let's wait and watch till the post mortem report and toxicological analysis report arrives sir. We are recording statements from his relatives and his friends. His wife has been informed. She will reach Pokhara by today evening," Yadav added further.
"But sir, I have come here to talk about my sanctioned leave. I have already booked a vehicle to go to Siraha next week on 18th January. My family members are eagerly waiting for me. I have not met my wife for the last 6 months. If I am stuck up with this case, all my plans will be ruined sir. Have pity on this poor guy sir." Yadav gestured like begging with DSP Tamang with a smile on his face.
"Ok Yadav. This doesn't look like a complicated case to me. I will ask somebody else to handle this case. Thapa already knows about this case. You can give your instructions to Thapa. He too is a qualified investigator."
After a brief pause DSP Tamang spoke again, "Ok then, you can plan your leave. But, be in touch with the department. If I need any help I will definitely call you. Don't dare to switch your mobile off."
"Thank you, sir. Jay Nepal," Inspector Yadav saluted DSP Tamang and left the office.
He then called SI Thapa to inquire about the case.
"Hello Thapa. What's the progress?"
"Sir, the body is sent for post mortem examination. I have asked Mr Batajoo and Ramesh's uncle to come to DPO. They will arrive there by 12pm today. I have called Mrs Divya to come to our office directly from the airport. She will arrive to Pokhara by 3pm. Right now I am having lunch sir. I will be back to office within half an hour," Thapa said.
"Meet me when you reach the office. We will take statements from them together." Then Yadav disconnected the phone.