(Updated) Ram Kumari Jhakri released after 5.5 hours

Kathmandu, February 11

NCP leader Ram Kumari Jhakri has been released by the police at 6:30 pm.

Police handed Jhakri over to her husband, Pashupati Puri, after keeping her in custody for 5.5 hours.

(Updated at 7 pm)

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NCP dissident faction’s Ram Kumari Jhakri arrested for statement against president

Kathmandu, February 11

Police have arrested Ram Kumari Jhakri, an influential leader of the dissident faction of the Nepal Communist Party, for her controversial statement against President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Thursday.

In the arrest warrant, the government has accused her of an offence against the state. A few days back, the leader had made an aggressive statement against the head of the state, and women leaders close to the ruling faction of the recently split party had demanded action against her for that.

Earlier this morning, the Metropolitan Police Crime Division had summoned Jhakri to the police post for an inquiry, but she had denied, demanding an arrest warrant.

Following that, the police personnel had gone there with a warrant issued by the division’s DSP Durga Raj Regmi.

When police had gone there to arrest Jhakri, dozens of cadres of the party had chanted slogans against the government.

What is her offence?

As per the arrest warrant, Jhakri committed an offence as defined in section 58 of the National Penal Code.

The section reads:

Prohibition of intimidation of President or Parliament:

1. No person shall intimidate, whether by using any kind of force or not, show fear or terror to, or otherwise overawe the President or Parliament of Nepal with intent to prevent or restrain the President or Parliament of Nepal from performing any of the functions required to be performed pursuant to the Constitution or law or compel the President or Parliament of Nepal to perform the functions in any specific manner.
2. A person who commits, or causes to be committed, the offence referred to in sub-section (1) shall be liable to a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or a fine not exceeding seventy thousand rupees or with both.