Nepal PM appears in court in connection with murder case

Nepal Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai appeared in person in Supreme Court on Monday in connection with a 2004 murder case of a journalist.

Updated on: Jan 28, 2013, 16:29:38 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Nepal Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai appeared in person in Supreme Court on Monday in connection with a 2004 murder case of a journalist.

Bhattarai was summoned on contempt of court charge for allegedly trying to obstruct investigation into the murder of Dekendra Thapa during the peak of the country’s civil war.

In his five-page written clarification the Prime Minister stated that he had not committed any contempt of court.

Bhattarai maintained that his opinion regarding the case were in line with the 2006 peace accord which stipulated settlement of all civil war cases through a truth and reconciliation commission.

Attorney General Mukti Pradhan, who had issued orders to the Dailekh district attorney and police office not to record statements of the five Maoist cadres accused of murdering Thapa, also defended his move.

Bhattarai and Pradhan were summoned following a writ filed by Democratic Lawyers’ Association and Nepal Press Union which alleged both had committed contempt of court by interfering in a sub-judice case.

Thapa who was allegedly tortured and buried alive by Maoists cadres is one of the nearly 16,000 people who lost their lives to violence by Maoists and security forces during the 1996-2006 unrest.

Tension has been brewing in Dailekh following the arrest of the five accused belonging to Bhattarai’s party earlier this month.

While Maoists have denied any involvement in Thapa’s killing, protesters have targeted the party and also Bhattarai for trying to halt proceedings into the case.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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