Pokhara, November 20

Five of the ten persons arrested in connection with the murder of Nepali Congress Kaski leader Ramji Poudel were released on bail yesterday following the order of the Pokhara Appellate Court.

The district court had remanded them to custody on September 14 and 16.

Bharat Poudel and Min Bahadur Bhale of Nawalparasi, Birendra Kumar Ranamagar of Rupandehi, Rabin Chhetri of Syangja and Chandra Bahadur Ghale of Tanahun, who were suspected of abetting the alleged murderer, were freed after they posted a bail amount of Rs 25,000 each.

A joint bench of Chief Judge Dambar Bahadur Shahi and Rishiram Dawadi had ordered their release, citing the lack of evidence to implicate them. The court, however, upheld the order of the district court to keep other accused, namely Biswas Gautam, Prakash Gurung, Rabin KC, Raju Ranabhat and Ashok Gurung, in custody.

Earlier, the district attorney office had filed a case against the ten persons in the district court, seeking life term along with confiscation of all their properties. However, their kin challenged the district court verdict at the Appellate Court.

A resident of Lekhnath Municipality, Poudel was found murdered near Gagangauda on August 14.