For Resham Lal Chaudhary, the alleged key schemer of the Tikapur carnage of August 2015, the Kailali District Court’s verdict has perhaps given a jolt since he was ‘convinced’, as observers argue, that the government would withdraw the case against him. Observers, however, are equally worried about the repercussions in the political spectrum.

The Kailali District Court on Wednesday gave the long-awaited verdict, sentencing Chaudhary and 10 others to life imprisonment.

Recall the August 24, 2015-Tikapur incident when eight police personnel, including an SSP of Nepal Police, and a toddler were lynched during a protest rally organized by the Tharus of Tikapur expressing disenchantment over the constitution draft.

From this very day, Chaudhary, the alleged mastermind in the Tikapur incident, reportedly went into hiding more than two years.

Wednesday’s verdict has irked the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal because Chaudhary is an elected lawmaker representing RJP-N.

Consider what Rajendra Mahato, a presidium member of the party told Khabarhub: “The decision is unacceptable. People will give the final verdict from the streets.”

Mahato’s strong-worded remarks indicate gloomy days ahead in the political spectrum because he categorically termed the court’s decision “unacceptable”. If this is the case, Mahato said Prime Minister KP Oli, Nepal Communist Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, too, be sent to the jail.

Laxman Lal Karna, leader of RJPN, too, is disgruntled with the government’s indifference on the issue “despite its assurances of withdrawing the case against Chaudhary”.

“We were earlier assured that the government would withdraw the criminal case against Chaudhary, who is our lawmaker,” Karna told Khabarhub.

Chaudhary, who had lodged his candidacy for the federal parliament through an agent, won the election by securing 34,341 votes cornering his competitors with a difference of around 19 thousand votes.

RJP-N, which has extended its support to the government, is in fact, riled at the latter’s adamant attitude. “It’s high time that RJP-N reconsidered its support to the government,” Karna said.

Earlier on February 26 last year, the Kailali District Court had decided to detain Chaudhary, who surrendered before the court, for ‘further investigation’. Since then, he has been behind bars at the Dilli Bazar Jail in Kathmandu.

It has to be recalled that the Supreme Court, too, had refused to release Chaudhary, who is also a singer and a journalist.

Interestingly, Chaudhary was also sworn in as House of Representatives member on January 3, 2019, even though his case was sub-judice. Despite this, he was not allowed to participate in the parliamentary proceedings.

KATHMANDU: Lawmakers have suggested the government to hold talks with the agitating teachers to address their demands.

Speaking during today’s session of the House of Representatives (HoR), Nepal Communist Party lawmaker Khagaraj Adhikari urged the government to address the demands of the agitating teachers through talks. The voices of the temporary teachers, he argued, should not be left unheeded.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Bal Krishna Khand raised concern over the high-handedness of the police in the peaceful demonstration of the teachers. He warned the government to refrain from suppressing the teachers.

Lawmaker Mahendra Raya Yadav said that the government should provide treatment expenses to teachers, who have been injured in the course of clash with the police.

Similarly, lawmakers, including Jip Tshiring Lama, Nar Bahadur Dhami, among others drew the government’s attention to resolve the problems of temporary teachers.

DHANGADHI: Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa has expressed the commitment to nab those involved in the rape and murder of 13-year-old girl Nirmala Panta of Kanchanpur.

Talking to journalists in Dhangadhi today, Home Minister Thapa said the government would bring the culprits to book at the earliest.

He informed that investigations are under way in this regard. Thapa, however, hinted at the complications in the investigation process due to the lapses in the initial phase.

Home Minister Thapa also said the government is serious about incidences of violence in the country.

KATHMANDU: The decision to slap a life imprisonment to Resham Lal Chaudhary, the alleged key schemer of the Tikapur carnage of August 2015, has infuriated the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN).

Rajendra Mahato, a presidium member of the Rastriya Janata Party, has threatened to hit the streets against the decision saying that the issue will be taken to people’s court. “Let the people decide,” Mahato told Khabarhub.

Stating that no court is above the people’s court, Mahato warned of serious consequences if the government failed to pardon Chaudhary. “We have lost our patience. The only way out now is to go for a stringent agitation.”

KATHMANDU: Eleven murder-accused including lawmaker of Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) Resham Lal Chaudhary have been sentenced to life in prison.

Hearing the case filed against Chaudhary on Tikapur incident,  on Wednesday, a single bench of judge Parshu Ram Bhattarai issued the verdict sentencing them to life in prison.

Others facing the sentence are Harinarayan Chaudhary, Rajkumar Kathariya, Sundar Lal Kathariya, Brij Mohan Dagaura, Rajesh Chaudhary, Bir Bahadur Chaudhary, Pradeep Chaudhary, Sitaram Chaudhary alias Bidroha, Shrawan Chaudhary and Ganga Ram Chaudhary.

Out of the 11 murdered-accused, the court has slapped a 10-year-jail term on Shrawan Chaudhary on his age aground.

Police had filed a murder case against Chaudhary, lawmaker of Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, for his involvement in the Tikapur incident in which eight persons including SP Laxman Neupane and a minor were killed on August 29, 2015.

Chaudhary was elected to the House of Representatives from Kailali Constituency -1. He had taken the oath of office and secrecy on January 3, 2019.

POKHARA: Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC) has withdrawn its decision to halt the operation of paragliding companies after the latter agreed to clear their long overdue arrears.

With the decision, the paragliding companies will continue their flights as usual.

The PMC had warned to halt flights of all the paragliding companies from today if they did not clear their dues. They have not cleared their dues for the last three years.

The paragliding entrepreneurs agreed to clear their dues in a meeting held between Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, PMC and Nepal Paragliding and Hang Gliding Association.

With the agreement, each company will pay Rs 86,000 within a week, said Rana Bahadur Thapa, chairman of MPC-18.  Over 60 paragliding companies have been operating flights in Pokhara.

BHAKTAPUR: Madhyapur Municipality is all set to construct a view tower at Natyashwari near Lokanthali in the district.

The three-story view tower will be built at the cost of Rs 30 million according to Madan Sundar Shrestha, Mayor of Madhyapur Municipality.

Surrounding views including Manohara, Dibyashwari, SOS, Tribhuvan International Airport, mountains can been seen from the view tower.

According to Shrestha, it would take around three years to complete the construction.  The government has already allocated Rs 7.5 million for the purpose.

The View Tower will have Natyashwari Park, a handicapped and child friendly garden, artificial rock climbing, fitness center and toilets.

KATHMANDU:  The National Planning Commission (NPC)  has prepared a draft to adopt a strategy to ensure basic, specialized and quality health services to all the citizens, including preventive and curative services. NCP made the draft of the 15th plan public with a vision of producing healthy, productive, responsible and happy citizens.

NCP plan for the financial year 2019/2020 to 2020/2021, has taken up the strategy to advance the ayurvedic, homeopathy and other medical system while further expanding and improving mother-child, children and adolescents-friendly and reproductive health and family planning services.

Likewise, a sustainable health finance system is aid to be developed by increasing investment in the health sector while developing skills health workers at the federal, state and local level hospitals and health centers, on the basis of population distribution, geographical situation and needs. Presently, around five percent of the total budget of the government is allocated for the health service. The World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests allocation of at least 10 percent of the budget.

The 15th plan has also given priority to collaboration with the private and non-government sector, while ensuring the leading role of the government in the health sector. An integrated measure for preparedness and response would be adopted for public health disaster management.

Furthermore, the scope of Nepal Health Research Council would be amended to suit the changing times, while expanding its reach to the State level, integrating the health information system, increasing use of data at the policy making level, minimizing health risks from migration and including health in all policy through multi-sectoral coordination.

KATHMANDU: Chief Election Commissioner Dr. Ayodhee Prasad Yadav presented an annual report for the fiscal year 2018/19 to President Bidya Devi Bhandari at the President’s Office, Sheetal Niwas today.

On the occasion, Dr. Yadav informed the President about the major tasks carried out made by the Election Commission in the fiscal year 2018/19.

The report has included the major accomplishments, including the successful conclusion of the elections, including the President, Vice President, House of Representatives, State Assembly, National Assembly, and the local levels.

KATHMANDU: The National Assembly (NA) today passed the proposal seeking to send the Bill on Pesticide Management and the Bill on Auditing, 2075 for clause-wise discussion to the Legislation Committee.

The bills — Bill on Pesticide Management on behalf of Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development — were presented by Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada in the National Assembly.