RAUTAHAT, FEBRUARY 9
Tensions flared outside the Rautahat District Court on Sunday as the family of a murder victim staged a protest, raising concerns over the acquittal of the accused in the case. Demonstrators gathered at the court premises, demanding justice for the victim and expressing dissatisfaction with the verdict.
The case traces back to June 19, 2019, when 52-year-old Rambinod Gupta, a resident of Saruatha village in Yamunamai Rural Municipality-4, was allegedly beaten to death following a dispute over credit transactions. The accused, identified as Bindeshwar Singh, Ramkishor Singh, Rohit Kumar Singh (also known as Raja Singh), Roshan Singh, Arvind Kumar Singh, Badababu Singh, Rambinod Singh, and Nikhil Kumar Singh, reportedly fled the scene after the incident.
Two of the accused, Ramvinod Singh and Ramkishor Singh, later surrendered to the police and were presented before the Rautahat District Court. However, their acquittal by the court sparked anger among the victim's family and supporters, leading to the protest.
Rajan Gupta, the deceased's brother, revealed that the cases (No. 079-C1-0152) and (0182) had named multiple accused, but only Ramkishor Singh and Rambinod Singh were arrested and later released on bail. Five other accused remain at large. During the hearing on February 2, the court acquitted Ramkishor and Rambinod Singh, while Nikhil Singh, a minor, was found guilty.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the verdict, Rajan Gupta and Rambinod Gupta's widow, Anita Devi, expressed their disappointment with the verdict. They called for a thorough review of the case and urged authorities to ensure that all accused are held accountable.
As the detention hearing for Nikhil Singh proceeded, Rajan Gupta led the protest at the court's main gate, demanding a reconsideration of the case. "We are ready to endure any hardship for justice," he told the media.
A local protester, who witnessed the incident, voiced concerns over public safety, stating, "Although we belong to a different community, we saw what happened. Rambinod Gupta was brutally beaten and later died during treatment in Birgunj. Now, we feel unsafe in Saruatha due to the prevailing situation."