The Royal Bhutan Police has released two CCTV footage images to the media as part of its clarification on the custodial death of Biren Kumar Kafley.
According to the police, the CCTV images show the deceased being escorted by police personnel to Olakha to identify his supplier and then safely escorted back to the detention center.
In the first image, the deceased is seen dressed in black clothing, standing near a staircase alongside a police official in civil dress wearing a white checkered shirt. In the second image, he is again seen in black clothing near a tree, walking toward a police van with a police official in uniform.
The Royal Bhutan Police stated that these visuals are evidence that Biren Kumar Kafley was in good physical condition before leaving the Narcotics, Drugs and Organized Crime Division (NDOVD). Based on this, the police have ruled out allegations of assault inside the detention center and maintained that he was safely escorted after identifying his supplier.
The police further claimed that while being transported back, the deceased allegedly attempted to escape by breaking the door of the police van before reaching the Lungtenphug viewpoint. According to the police, this escape attempt resulted in injuries, which later led to his death.
Meanwhile, a senior official from the Royal Bhutan Police headquarters informed that a committee, comprising officials not associated with the NDOVD, will be formed in the coming days. The committee will examine the matter to determine any negligence, and appropriate action will be taken based on its findings.
More details on the case are expected to be published in the official police report tomorrow.
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