Panchthar, July 12

The District Court of Panchthar has ordered to send the murder accused of a microfinance employee in Hilihang Rural Municipality to a rehabilitation centre, citing age factor.

Sujata Tamang, a resident of Ilam working at the NMB Microfinance Gopetar branch, was murdered in a forest at Thalajung of Hilihang Rural Municipality-6, on June 18 while she was returning to her work station after holding a meeting and collecting interest on loan. The murderer had also robbed Rs 81,700 in cash the woman was carrying with her.

Two days after the incident, police had arrested Ganendra Lawati, 19, of Thalajung with the weapon used in the murder and the stolen cash.

Following his arrest, police had filed a charge-sheet at the District Court against Lawati, seeking punishment of life imprisonment, with confiscation of his property.

Hearing on the case, a single bench of district judge Manoj KC today ordered to send Lawati to a rehabilitation centre by identifying him as a minor. The court had consulted the perpetrator’s academic credentials and birth certificate after he claimed himself as minor while testifying before the court.