The decision to file a case of an attempted murder was made amid criticisms that officials were trying to press only public offence charges against the culprits, denying the incident the gravity it deserves despite the fact that the men had attacked Giri in front of police officials, judges and lawyers.[break]
The decision was taken following a discussion between Deputy Inspector General Binod Singh of Eastern Regional Police Office, Senior Superintendent of Police Mingmar Lama of Koshi Zonal Police Office, and Morang´s Superintendent of Police Thakur Ram Bartaula.
A source said District Police Office (DPO) Morang is preparing to file such case against YF cadres Manoj Khadka, Suman Luintel, Bharat Sharma, Hari Basnet, Manish Gurung, Muna Sapkota, Alice Gurung, Shambhu Yadav, Dipendra Mehata, Devananda Yadav, and Mukesh Budathoki. Though three of the accused have been let off after an interrogation, Devananda and Mukesh, who were injured during the incident, are receiving treatment in police custody. Giri, who is lodged in Eastern Regional Prison in connection with the murder of one Karan Yadav, was attacked by Basnet´s gang on June 1 while being taken to be presented before a judge.
Later, YF cadres, under Basnet´s instruction, attacked Republica correspondent Khilanath Dhakal on June 5 for reporting the attack against Giri.
Attempted murder charge against Koirala
Police are also preparing to file an attempted murder case against Rohit Koirala, the only one among the men involved in thrashing journalist Dhakal. Police will produce Koirala at Morang District Court on Monday. Morang Chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Bikram Niroula had filed an attempted murder case against Koirala, Basnet and another accomplice Manoj Rai. If convicted, Basnet, Koirala and Rai could get a minimum of five years and a maximum of 12 years in jail.
Despite mobilizing four separate special teams, police have yet to nab Basnet and Rai, a week after a formal complaint was lodged against the duo.
Meanwhile, sister organizations of 13 different political parties, including UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML, Madhesi People´s Right Forum (MPRF), among others, organized press conference Sunday to denounce the delay in arresting the main accused Basnet. A central member of the NC affiliated Nepal Students´ Union (NSU) Kedar Karki warned that the sister organizations would intensify their agitation from Tuesday if Basnet was not arrested by then. Meanwhile leaders and workers of NC, Maoists, UML and other parties Sunday met Chief District Officer Suresh Adhikari to put pressure for arresting Basnet. Journalists have been protesting for the past week demanding arrest of the main accused. The agitating media persons staged a sit-in in front of Morang Police Office for half an hour Sunday after taking out a protest rally from FNJ´s Biratnagar brach office at College Road.
UML bar assailants from party activities
Amidst allegations of political patronage, UML district chapter Morang has on Sunday directed Basnet, Koirala and Rai to refrain from involving in any activities of the party´s sister organizations.
Morang Chairman of the UML Binod Dhakal said a meeting on Sunday took the decision as the case involving the trio was subjudice at the court. UML sources said chairman Dhakal, who was protecting Basnet, was forced to take the decision after district committee members mounted pressure on him to take action against the culprits. Youth Force members chanted slogans against the district committee members who demanded action against Basnet and his accomplices and even obstructed the meeting for a while.
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