Pokhara, October 26
A couple is in shock after 25.5 tola (one tola = 11.33980925 gm) of gold and other valuables ‘vanished’ from a bus bound for Pokhara from Kathmandu.
The incident, according to the victims, who were returning to their hometown from England, occurred in a night bus numbered Na 4 Kha 3693 on Tuesday night.
Buddhi Bahadur Gurung said his wife Deutakumari Gurung of Kolpatan, Pokhara-14, had slept in the bus’ seats (they had taken two seats each so as to travel comfortably with their luggage that contained valuables) by hiding the bag containing gold jewellery and other valuables under the pillow, only to wake up at night and find the valuables gone. There were some more valuables in the bag of Buddhi’s mother. They too are gone.
The Gurungs said the lost valuables included rings (one tola), tops weighing four tola and four-tola gold chain (hidden under Deutakumaris pillow. Stuffs stolen from the bag of Buddhi’s mother include Rs 12,000 in cash and four wrist watches.
Buddhi said: There were only five people on board the bus, including the three of us, the bus driver and his helper. At 12.20 am, bus staff got off the bus for having tea. Ten minutes later, two people entered the bus and asked where the bus was headed to. Sometime later, they got off. Then came a lanky fellow clad in red shirt and slippers and asked the same question. When we replied the bus was going to Pokhara, he disembarked saying he will get on board sometime later.
He continued: Deutakumari got suspicious and checked her pillow, only to find the bag containing valuables gone.
After the first two individuals got off the bus, I shut the door, Buddhi said. But the third person (the lanky one donning red shirt) opened the door and entered the bus. Buddhi said they had reserved four seats so that they could sleep on the way home.
The Gurung couple had informed police right after finding their valuables gone. Mugling police have taken bus’ helper Bishnu Poudel under control for investigation. According to police, the driver’s act of stopping the bus in the middle of the journey and vanishing of the valuables suggest a possible plot.
Prithvi Highway Bus Operators’ Committee has pledged to help with the police probe.
