Chitwan, August 17

Demonstrations continued on the second day today at Chaubiskothi of Bharatpur in Chitwan district following arrest of TV programme presenter Rabi Lamichhane and two others, in connection with the death of journalist Shalikram Pudasaini.

Dozens of youths from Free Youth Group held demonstrated in Chaubiskothi this morning seeking justice for journalist Pudasaini, who was found hanging in Kangaroo Hotel of Narayangadh on August 5.

Carrying placards that called for fair investigation into the incident and justice for the victim, they protested against another group of demonstrations who supported Lamichhane, the main accused in the suicide case, at a time when police are investigating the case.

Lamichhane’s supporters held demonstration for almost the entire day in front of the District Police Office and also at Chaubiskothi, demanding his release. Police had to fire a few rounds of tear gas at the demonstrators after they pelted stones at a police vehicle.

According to District Police Office Chitwan Chief, SP Dan Bahadur Malla, window of the vehicle was smashed from

the stone-pelting. “As demonstrators tried to torch the vehicle, police had to fire three rounds of tear gas to disperse the crowd,” he said.

Police on Thursday had arrested Lamichhane along with two others—Yuvaraj Kandel and Asmita Karki, aka Ruku—from Kathmandu. They are now in police custody. A journalist working for Mountain TV, Pudasaini had recorded a video on his cell phone stating that Lamichhane, Kandel and Karki had compelled him to commit suicide.