Hearing of treason cases next month

Kathmandu, April 15

The Special Court will hear two treason cases against Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai in the first week of next month. The cases have been pending for the last eight years. The decision comes in the wake of Supreme Court Justice Anup Raj Sharma’s order, who made round of the lower court a few months ago.

“As per Muluki Ain, 1963, pending cases have to be disposed of within two years. Hence, Justice Sharma drew the attention to these cases,” said Agni Thapaliya, registrar, Special Court.

Of the 88 pending cases, 11 are related to treason. While, the rest pertains to corruption.

The erstwhile government had filed treason charges against Prachanda and Dr Bhattarai for their alleged involvement in the attack on Babiyachour police post in Myagdi and another violent activity at Bandipur in Tanahaun, respectively, at the height of the People’s War eight years ago.

Incidentally, those who were arrested in these two attacks have already got clean chits.

Maoist cadres Min Bahadur Baniya, Padam Bahadur Rana and Keshav Raj Singh were acquitted in 2005. The government had filed cases against them, alleging that arms and ammunition were seized from these ex-rebels.

Though the Special Court had issued notices to Prachanda and Bhattarai shortly after the registration of these two cases, the duo never attended the hearing for reasons best known to them.