Kathmandu/Janakpurdham, August 3
The High Court in Janakpurdham on Thursday issued an order in the name of Mahottari District Police Office to arrest two ‘absconding’ suspects of a murder case. The persons, whom the police say are absconding, however, are holding significant state positions in provincial and local governments.
Abhiram Sharma has recently been appointed the State Minister for Social Development in Province 2 government. Likewise, Ram Shankar Mishra is the mayor of Mahottari district headquarters, Jaleshwor. Both belong to the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, a ruling coalition member in the province.
A division bench of judge duo Madhav Prasad Pokharel and Ravi Sharma Aryal issued the order in response to a writ filed against the government’s failure to arrest them though they are holding state positions.
Both are accused of murdering Armed Police Force staffer Thaman BK during a clash in September 2015. BK’s wife Shobha Gahatraj had moved the court against them.
Meanwhile, the party’s central leadership says it will hold a meeting soon to decide how to respond to the order.
“After the court has made the decision, the issues has to be seriously discussed,” the party’s presidium member Raj Kishor Yadav says, “The party will take an appropriate decision soon.”
He, however, argues that the death of BK was a political incident as it happened during the Madhesh movement.
“During that time, many of such incidents would occur and they would be dealt politically,” Yadav claims, “This is also a part of that series.”
