Kathmandu, March 12:

The Kathmandu District Court is likely to issue a verdict on whether or not to release three journalists — Rishi Dhamala, Birendra KM and Subhak Mahato — and Manoj Mahato, the

in-charge of Madhes Nation Democratic Party, tomorrow.

Following a hearing on the case filed against them, a single bench of judge Udaya Raj Chapagain said it would decide tomorrow on whether or not to grant them bail.

The four were detained and prosecuted on charge of attempt to murder and abduction. They have been jailed on the charge of involvement in a blast.

The accused, however, have alleged the police of torturing them to record statement against Dhamala.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Nepali Journalists has formed a panel to probe into the detention of the journalists. “FNJ has taken the issue seriously and formed a panel to find out the truth,” said FNJ general secretary Poshan KC in a press release.

The FNJ said the journalists should not be victimised if they were not involved in any illegal act. “But the secrecy adopted by government in the case has created doubt over the government’s intention,” the statement said.