BIRGUNJ, Jan 17: Constituent Assembly member Babban Singh was arrested in Birgunj Saturday evening on charges of murdering young businessman Rajesh Kyal.
The police arrested Singh on the basis of statement by ´Bibek´, a cadre of Madhesi Mukti Tigers who had been arrested in connection with the murder of the businessman a few weeks back. [break] Singh arrived here from the capital Friday to speak at a program here organized by Madhesi Trade Union in the eastern town on Saturday.
Businessman Kyal, 25, was shot dead by armed men near Adarshanagar Chowk, Birgunj on December 22.
Chief District Officer, Parsa Shankar Prasad Koirala confirmed the arrest, adding that all legal formalities had been completed. He said the CA member would be interrogated in connection with the murder.
Since the session of Constituent Assembly is going on these days, permission of the chairman of the assembly is essential to arrest a member. Singh won election as independent candidate from Rautahat-1 constituency.
Koirala did not want to reveal the timing and place of the arrest. Even the police officers are tight-lipped. Singh has currently been detained at Parsa District Police Office, Birgunj.
When myrepublica.com tried to reach the CA member on his cell phone, he did not return the call.
Singh already faces a number of criminal charges, including rape and murder. He is also a primary accused for serial blasts in Kathmandu in September 2007.
Although police sources say that Bibek had taken the name of Singh soon after his arrest, the police had not acted then, citing ongoing investigation.
One high-ranking police officer, requesting anonymity, said that the CA member was arrested on direct orders of the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam.
Singh had, on January 12, severely criticized the government in parliament over the murder of radio journalist Uma Singh. He termed it "goon government". He had also lampooned ex-general secretary of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) Madhav Kumar Nepal for accepting to become CA nominated member despite losing CA elections from two constituencies.
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Meanwhile, speaking about the arrest of lawmaker Singh, CA Chairman Subas Nembang said the Home Ministry has sent a letter to the House informing about the lawmaker´s arrest and charges against him. "Though there is no provision in the constitution and law for seeking prior permission from the House for arresting a lawmaker, I took initiatives with urgency and asked the Home Ministry to inform about the arrest immediately."
(Yuvraj Acharya contributed to this report from Kathmandu.)
