'I am afraid that Kham would escape, as the Prime Minister is CPN-MC supremo'
KATHMANDU, APRIL 2
The Kathmandu Police Circle apprehended Kali Bahadur Kham, alias Bibidh, a CPN (Maoist Centre) leader, on Tuesday from Thamel.
Kham had been absconding after his name was linked to the abduction of businessperson and restaurant owner in Koteshwor, Ram Hari Shrestha from Koteshwor.
Kham was arrested today by a team from Kathmandu's District Police Circle, approximately 15 years after he and his group brutally murdered Shrestha. SP Navaraj Adhikari confirmed that Kham was detained today.
Shrestha, a businessperson, was murdered in 2008. Kham is accused of murdering Ram Hari Shrestha in a cold-blood after abducting him from Kathmandu on 27 April, 2008, in Chitwan.
However, another Maoist commander, Govinda Bahadur Batala (Jibit), who was arrested in this case, was later released.
Kham is believed to be the mastermind behind the Shrestha murder case. He was previously a division commander among the Maoist combatants and now works in the Maoist Centre's security department. The security department is led by Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the CPN-MC vice chair, who is currently on bail in connection with the gold smuggling case involving electronic cigarettes.
Shrestha, an entrepreneur, was abducted and brutally murdered in 2008. On May 25, 2008, Shrestha's body was discovered on the banks of the Trishuli River (now Kabilas 1) in Jugedi, Chitwan. Shrestha was kidnapped on 27 April, 2008, from his home in Koteshwor.
Shrestha was then taken to the Maoist rebel camp in Chitwan, known as Shaktikhor. Shrestha was abducted by Kham's group after claiming that 1.7 million rupees in cash and weapons were stolen from that office on March 27, 2008, which was located in Kham's house.
Ramila, Shrestha's wife, filed a complaint against Kham and Govinda Bahadur Batala on June 23, 2008. Batala was released from prison and is now active in Maoist politics; Kham, on the other hand, is a fugitive.
Despite the verdict against Batala, the other cases have been adjourned. Kham has been on the run ever since the incident. The police were unable to arrest him due to political protection.
In 2020, Govinda Bahadur Batala got a clean chit from the Supreme Court. In his police statement, Batala admitted to taking Shrestha, along with Keshav Adhikari and Gangaram Thapa, to Chitwan for questioning about Shrestha's alleged involvement in the robbery of Rs 1.7 million and a pistol.
According to Batala, Shrestha died in Dhakapani, Chitwan, while being transported to Kathmandu for treatment after his health deteriorated as a result of the beating. Adhikari and Thapa threw Shrestha's body into the Bhaludhunga River as he exited the vehicle that was ferrying him. Adhikari and Thapa are fugitive.
Meanwhile, Late Shrestha's spouse Ramila expressed her concern while talking with Nepal Press, saying that Kham had been arrested, but she was afraid he would be released because the CPN-MC supremo is the country's prime minister.
"I am 47 years old now," she said, crying. "After my husband's murder and raising two toddlers alone, I controlled my tears, but I could not control them today," reads Nepal Press.
"She also expressed concern that Kham would be released quickly, as the CPN-MC supremo is the Prime Minister and may exert pressure on the authorities. I learned that he had previously been apprehended but was released overnight. I heard that he has been caught again. All I want is to make sure the murderer does not escape. I would like to hear that action has been taken. Even if my husband cannot be returned, the government must provide justice for us and my husband."
