Kathmandu: Rustria Prajantra Party (RPP) Senior Vice President Rabindra Mishra and General Secretary Dhawal Shamshar Rana, a member of Lower House, were sent to custody for five days by Judge Tardevi Maharjan of Kathmandu District Court. The court allowed further investigation under allegations related to crimes against the state. Court Information Officer Deepak Kumar Shrestha said that the pair was among the 11 people submitted in the court on Monday. Mishra was handcuffed; Rana was not there.
Rana’s daughter Shivangini told TOI that her father came to know of cancer at Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Center in India in November. He had just completed a round of radiation therapy and was due to returning to India for follow-up treatment, but was not allowed to leave. “I won’t wonder if they (the government) slap ridiculous allegations against him,” he said.
Shivangini said that the family was verbally informed by the authorities that the passports of the two members were being conducted “until the next notice”, but no formal communication was received.
Meanwhile, during a session of the Federal Parliament on Monday, MPs of the ruling coalition demanded that the passport of former King Gyanendra Shah be imposed in relation to violent demonstrations. Rustria Janmorcha MP Chitra Bahadur Casey said that the intensive investigation into the former king’s role was “necessary to protect the Republic”.
Kathmandu District Public Prosecutor Office chief Ramhari Sharma Kafle said that Mishra, Rana and others could be accused of crimes against the state after preliminary investigation. Of the about 200 persons – local people, members of various political parties – were arrested and detained so far, the police have produced 42 people in the court, including criminal mischief and organized crime charges. The rest of the investigation is going on, the police said.
According to officials, 28 March ‘Janadolan’ – led by the United People’s Movement Committee, a alliance that supports the monarchy – turned violent and led to widespread barbarity in Kathmandu. The protesters allegedly damaged homes, a hospital, vehicles and a political party office, and looted a shopping mall. He allegedly seized a weapon from the armed police. The committee was headed by Navaraj Subedi, which is under the arrest of the house.
In another development, Kathmandu Metropolitan City imposed a fine of Rs 793,000 (INR 4 lakh) by Gyanendra Shah Nepali for damage related to protest. Officials issued a fine on several violations, including demolishing public railing on the streets of garbage and damaging the fire engine used during protest. The city police tried to give a letter to Gyanendra’s property at Nirmal Niwas, but it was removed by their employees. The notice was later sent by post.
