The Hindu : Front Page : Hannah's killer held near Indo-Nepal border

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Friday, Jul 16, 2004

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Hannah's killer held near Indo-Nepal border

By Marcus Dam

KOLKATACHANDIGARH, JULY 15.JULY 15. Maninderpal Singh Kohli, prime suspect in the rape and murder of the British girl, Hannah Foster, was arrested by police near Panighata close to the Indo-Nepal border in West Bengal's Darjeeling district this afternoon.

Speaking to The Hindu over telephone from Kalimpong, the Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling, Rajiv Mishra, said that Kohli was spotted by the local police in Kalimpong onWednesday. They recognised him from pictures published in newspapers but he left the town with his wife shortly after. He was apprehended near Panighata, which is a three-hour drive from Kalimpong.

"Kohli had been living in a house rented by his family in Kalimpong for more than three months," Mr. Mishra said. He might have been trying to escape to Nepal when he realised that police were pursuing him. Interrogations are underway.

Just two days ago, the parents of Hannah had, in a press conference in New Delhi, appealed to the "conscience" of people who might have information on the whereabouts of the suspect, urging them to come forward and pass on what they might know to the authorities concerned to help in tracking him down. Kohli had reportedly fled to Punjab after allegedly raping and murdering 17-year-old Hannah whose body was found two days after she had gone missing in Southampton in the United Kingdom. A post mortem had revealed that she had been raped and strangled to death.

The suspect, a migrant lorry driver, fled England within two days of the body being discovered. It was suspected that he had come to his parent's home in Mohali in Punjab but disappeared a few days later.

Parents express relief

By Our Staff Correspondent

KOLKATACHANDIGARH, JULY 15.JULY 15. The parents of the murdered British girl, Hannah Foster, and the prime suspect in the case, Maninder Singh Kohli, have expressed relief over the latter's arrest.

Talking to presspersons, Trevor and Hillary Foster said that though they had received confirmation about the arrest through the local police, they would await an authoritative communication. The couple were in the city to appeal to the people to help trace Kohli.

Mr. Foster thanked the Punjab and West Bengal police for effecting Kohli's arrest and hoped that justice would be delivered soon. He appreciated the role of the Indian media for focussing on the issue.

Kohli's father, Jagjit Singh, told reporters at his residence in Patiala city that he was relieved by his son's arrest.

He said that though he was sure about his son's innocence, as a father he would have nothing to do with him if the law found him guilty.

Mr. Singh expressed confidence that the legal system would settle the controversy once for all. However, he expressed inability to help his son pursue the case as he had nobody to nurse his wife, who is in coma for the last 20 months.

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