Home Minister vows action against Ramhari's murderers

KATHMANDU, Nov 10 - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bamdev Gautam on Monday said that he is committed to take action against those involved in the murder of Kathmandu-based businessman Ram Hari Shrestha. Speaking at the legislative session of the Constituent Assembly (CA) today, Minister Gautam said ...

The Shrestha's murder case regained attention of the media and the Constituent Assembly following recent media reports that say Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa met the absconding PLA commander at Chitwan District Administration Office on October 26. According to the media reports, Magar, who is also known as Bibidh, serves as the commander of the Shaktikhor cantonment site in Chitwan though the Maoists said he was suspended from the party after Shrestha's murder in May.

Maoist cadres had abducted businessman Shrestha from his home in the capital and subsequently murdered him at UNMIN-monitored Shaktikhor cantonment. Following the criticism of the party from all quarters, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal had said there was no institutional had of the CPN-Maoist and its People's Liberation Army in Shrestha's murder and claimed that selfish elements within the party were involved in it.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Gautam informed that the government has decided to withdraw all charges imposed on cadres of Terai-Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) during the communal riot in Kapilvastu last year. According to Gautam, release of the cadres was delayed due to various technical procedures.

The TMDP leaders have been demanding the release of their cadres, saying that they were charged with false cases.

Over a dozen civilians were killed in September last year in the riot that erupted following the killing of Moit Khan, former chairman of the district vigilante group set up against the Maoists during the armed conflict.