Defense Minister refutes meeting 'wanted' PLA commander

KATHMANDU, Nov 9 - In the wake of widespread media reports and claims about his ‘hobnobbing’ with Kali Bahadur Kham Magar alias Bibidh, the prime accused of the murder of Kathmandu-based businessman Ram Hari Shrestha, Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa on Sunday denied that he met with the absconding former ...

Minister Thapa, a senior Maoist leader who is more popular by his nom de guerre Badal, denied meeting Bibidh at legislative session of the Constituent Assembly (CA) today after the House directed him to furnish clarification over the alleged meeting with the former Maoist commander.

“I am fully aware of my post and responsibility,” Minister Thapa said, adding, “There is no question of me meeting and providing protection to Kali Bahadur, who has been accused of murder and suspended from my party, CPN-Maoist.

CA Chairman Subash Chandra Nemwang yesterday ruled that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bam Dev Gautam and Minister Thapa appear in parliament and present the government's view in this regard.

His ruling came after NC lawmakers expressed concern that the government was not heeding their demand for clarification over the matter.

However, Home Minister Gautam could not attend today’s house session as he is said to be out of the Kathmandu Valley.

According to recent media reports, Bibidh was seen with Defense Minister Thapa on October 26 on the premises of Chitwan District Administration Office and has been serving as the commander of the Shaktikhor cantonment site in Chitwan despite the Maoist party’s claim that he was suspended soon after his name wqs linked with the murder case.

Besides Bibidh, three other Maoist combatants"Govinda Bahadur Batala, Keshav Adhikari and Ganga Bahadur Thapa"were held responsible for the mysterious killing of the Kathmandu-based businessman on April 27 inside Shaktikhor cantonment immediately after his abduction from his house at Koteshwor in the capital on the charge of stealing money and a UN-registered weapon from Bibidh.

Under tremendous pressure from various quarters, the Maoist leadership had pledged to look for the absconding trio and hand them over to the authorities for legal action. While Batala is in police detention, Adhikari, Thapa and Bibidh are still “at large.