Achham Shahi murder case: six including congress Municipal President sentenced to life imprisonment

Dhangadhi: The High Court, Dipayal, has overturned the District Court’s verdict and sentenced six individuals to life imprisonment in the death case of 16-year-old Binod Shahi of Panchadeval Binayak Municipality-4 in Achham.

A joint bench of High Court Chief Justice Dinesh Prasad Yadav and Poonam Singh Chand overturned the earlier decision of the District Court, Achham, and found the defendants guilty.

According to court spokesperson Nar Bahadur Negi, defendants Sajjan Shahi, Mahendra Shahi, Birendra Shahi, Devendra Shahi, Prithvi Shahi and Akkal Shahi have been sentenced to life imprisonment. Sajjan Shahi also serves as the municipal president of the Nepali Congress.

The court has also ordered each defendant to pay Rs 1 lakh in compensation to the victim.

In the case involving four other defendants—Panmati Bam Shahi, Dropati Shahi, Karna Bahadur Shahi and Shanti Kumari Shahi—the District Court’s earlier acquittal has been upheld.

Earlier, on 4 Mangsir 2082, the Achham District Court had acquitted all the defendants.

The incident originated from a dispute between Nepali Congress and CPN-UML workers in Panchadeval Binayak Municipality on the day of the local level elections, 30 Baisakh 2079. Following the dispute, UML workers reportedly beat Congress workers, leading to a clash.

During the incident, Binod Shahi went missing, and his body was later found in a forest near his home on 16 Jestha 2079.

Although the victim had filed a complaint against 13 individuals, including the municipality mayor Ambika Chalaune, the Achham District Government Attorney’s Office had decided not to prosecute some of the accused, including the mayor.