KATHMANDU, March 10: Citing his declining health, Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) has demanded the immediate release of Resham Lal Chaudhary, an RJPN House of Representative member and also the main accused of the Tikapur carnage.
Similarly, the party has urged the government to make arrangements for him to take oath of office as a lower house member.
Chaudhary, the main accused in the 2015 Tikapur massacre, was absconding since the carnage but surrendered to the District Court Kailali two weeks ago. He is currently in judicial detention. On August 24, 2015, seven security personnel including SSP Laxman Neupane and a toddler were brutally killed during a clash between the police and armed protesters affiliated with the Tharuhat Struggle Committee in Tikapur of Kailali.
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But since the last six days, Chaudhary along with 25 others arrested on the charge of their involvement in the massacre, have been staging indefinite hunger strike inside the district prison. All of them, who are currently in judicial custody, have been demanding the immediate release of Chaudhary and he be allowed to take the oath of office as parliamentarian.
On Friday, the sixth day of the hunger strike, Chaudhary’s condition suddenly worsened and he was rushed to the hospital. But after he refused to seek medical treatment, he was brought back to the prison. He had fainted in the prison due to low blood pressure, according to district authorities.
In a telephone conservation with prime minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday, RJPN leader Mahantha Thakur urged Oli to release Chaudhary and make arrangement for him to take oath of office.
“His (Chaudhary) health is deteriorating and anything can happen if the government stays like this. I told him (PM Oli) to do something before it’s too late,” Thakur told Republica.
Tharu said that the prime minister has promised to look into his case.
On Saturday morning, RJPN leaders are meeting with Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa to talk about the release of Chaudhary and 25 people arrested in association with the Kailali incident, according to Thakur.
Despite his election victory, the Election Commission has yet to hand over a victory certificate to Chaudhary, without which he won’t be able to take the oath of office. Citing his missing status, the EC had not issued a victory certificate to Chaudhary. The law requires that any candidate winning the election should herself/himself be physically present before the office to receive the certificate.
