DHADING, May 24: The District Court (DC), Dhading, on Wednesday convicted 26 persons for the killing of two shamans in Gangajamuna Rural Municipality-2 about a year ago. A single bench of Judge Prakash Dhungana delivered the verdict. However, four women accused were acquitted of the murder charge. On July 21, 2018, two shamans - Plek Tamang, 45, also known as 'Saila' and Narung Tamang,65, of Gangajamuna-2 were beaten to death by the villagers. Police had expedited investigation into the case immediately after the murder of the shamans.
Those who were sentenced to prison include Jit Bahadur Tamang, 34, Bhim Bahadur Tamang, 49, Mem Bahadur Tamang, 36, Tadong Tamang, 44, Mangale Tamang, 25, Bam Bahadur Tamang, 34, Bishal Tamang, 27, Ram Bahadur Tamang, 38, Amit Tamang, 18, Ram Bahadur Tamang, 36, and Bishal Tamang, 23, were given life term by the court.
Village where shamans are preferred over doctors
Nawaraj Dangal, registrar of the court,informed Republica that some of the convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment as per clause 13 (3) of the civil code. "Eleven of the convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment as per the civil code," said Dangal, adding, "While others have been punished according to their roles in the murders." Furthermore, other convicts namely Shankar Tamang, 38, Bir Bahadur Tamang, 37, Shuk Bahadur Tamang, 26, Shukram Tamang, 18, Anjan Tamang, 18, Manoj Tamang, 36, Beg Bahadur Tamang, 31, Sanam Tamang, 22, and Manram Tamang, 55, have been sentenced to five years and six months in prison each.
However, 56-year-old Bal Bahadur Tamang has been sent to jail for three years and six months for summoning the villagers to kill the shamans by playing the role of a messenger. Four women - Sushina Tamang, Asarmaya Tamang, Kaisang Tamang and Tarasya Tamang were given clean chits by the court.
