KATHMANDU, Aug 14: The Rupandehi Prison Office has stated that Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane has been kept in a separate cell from the start, considering his security situation.
In a press release issued Thursday, the prison administration said Lamichhane, who has been in custody for the past four months in connection with a cooperative fraud and organized crime case, has been kept in a separate room equipped with its own toilet.
“The plywood previously on the cell’s window has been replaced with a grill. The telephone and visitation privileges provided to him from the start remain intact,” the statement issued by Prison Administrator Suresh Bhandari reads.
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The prison administration also mentioned that arrangements are made to transfer sick inmates to local hospitals or, as per a doctor’s recommendation, to other facilities for further treatment.
“The prison office is committed to maintaining harmony among all inmates, ensuring peace, security, and a human-rights-friendly environment. We request all concerned to obtain official information from this office before publishing news about the prison, and to ensure accurate reporting,” the statement added.
The office said the release was prompted by recent media coverage of various issues related to Rupandehi Prison.
The prison has a capacity for 250 inmates, but currently houses 640. Despite operating at more than three times its intended capacity, the office claims it has been making the best possible use of available resources to provide all legal services and facilities on time.
“In line with the prison’s physical structure and capacity, all inmates are equally provided with food, accommodation, movement space, education (schooling/newspapers), television, and opportunities to meet relatives or make phone calls,” the statement noted.
As per the Prison Act 2079 (2022) and Prison Regulations, additional facilities are also given to inmates who are infirm, disabled, elderly, or considered at security risk. Except for such positive discrimination in accordance with the law, no other discrimination among inmates is practiced. The prison administration also conducts periodic inspections of prison conditions, listens to inmates’ grievances, and addresses them to the extent possible with available resources, the Rupandehi Prison Office stated.
