The Bhutanese Leading the way.
After the Thimphu District Court sentenced the perpetrator Choten Tshering to life imprisonment for murder along with an additional 14 years for rape of child (digital penetration) above 12 years of age, the victim’s family shared that the sentence brings a sense of justice to the victim, Sumitra Chhetri, and her family that miss her.
“Our family is indeed very happy with the judgement of the court. Although our sister is no longer with us, the perpetrator is imprisoned which means a safer environment for us and for future children and girls,” the victim’s elder sister said.
The family expressed deep gratitude to everyone who played a role in achieving justice and for providing support during the difficult time.
“We are still in denial, as we feel our sister’s presence. However, we are trying to accept the truth and carry on with our lives. During such challenging times, people came forward to support us in every way possible. Unexpected donations were incredibly helpful for carrying out immediate funeral rituals for our sister and for future needs. Volunteers gathered during the time she went missing, and we felt blessed to have everyone ensuring we were not alone,” Sumitra’s sister added.
She emphasized that the life sentence for the perpetrator should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks it is acceptable to commit such crimes and evade consequences. “This is a testament that if one considers doing such heinous acts, they should understand that justice will prevail,” she stated.
The sister earlier stated that she supported the publishing of the murderer’s image as it helped with the case investigation and would also keep others safe and in case he ever escapes from prison people would know him.
The Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) shared that the case was solvable due to CCTV footage installed by a private resident, which helped trace the suspect to the crime scene, ultimately leading to the arrest.
RBP said that they have been advocating for the installation of CCTV cameras, but most installations have been carried out by the police as part of their safe city initiative.
With over 140 CCTV cameras installed, RBP acknowledged that this number is insufficient and that cameras are placed only in prioritized locations based on risk assessments.
“The CCTV cameras we have installed won’t suffice. Therefore, we encourage every building and shop owners to install their own cameras. This not only safeguards their property but also aids police investigations. There is a need for collaborative effort here. If it weren’t for that private resident installing CCTV camera, the Pamtsho case suspect would have gotten away same like the Dangrina case or the case wouldn’t have been solved.”
Additionally, RBP advised that CCTV camera owners should regularly check their equipment and save footage data at least monthly to enhance safety and assist in investigations. They also assured that related technical assistance is available for those in need from them.
