KATHMANDU, Sept 5: Taking strong exception to the repeated arrest of Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma, the spokesperson of the Maoist party led by Netra Bikram Chand, even after the Supreme Court order to release him the Supreme Court has ordered the government to release Bishwakarma.

In its brief written order on Tuesday after police arrested Bishwakarma and took him to Bhojpur District Court from Biratnagar in order to initiate legal process on criminal charges, the apex court expressed its serious concerns. A division bench of justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Tanka Moktan raised serious concerns over the government’s intention to arrest him in violation of the apex court’s orders. The bench had handed down the order Monday but issued its brief text on Tuesday.

Bishwakarma is being taken to Bhojpur District Court in order to try him on the charge of planting a bomb targeting the then CPN-UML leader Sherdhan Rai [the current chief minister of Province 1] during the parliamentary elections last year.

“It seems that the applicant is being held in detention with mala fide intention at a time when two habeas corpus petitions are sub judice at the court and he has been kept in detention without completing necessary legal procedures,” the order stated.

The apex court also stated that the explanation submitted to the court by the government authorities regarding the re-arrests is not satisfactory.  

The bench has also directed the government to release Bishwakarma in the presence of the judge of Nuwakot District Court and submit the letter of release to the apex court.

 
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