15, including seven police personnel, sentenced to life imprisonment in prisoner murder case

Kathmandu: The verdict of life imprisonment has been handed down to 15 people in the case of the murder of two prisoners at Khandbari District Prison in Sankhuwasabha.

On 24th Shrawan 2080, Binod Tolangi, 20, of Madi Municipality-5 in the district, and Akash Balami, 28, of Kakani Rural Municipality-7 in Nuwakot, were beaten to death by security personnel and some prisoners in the district prison. Investigation revealed that the two prisoners died when they were taken into custody after allegedly attempting to escape by cutting the window rod of the prison toilet.

The district court’s Shrestedar Ujwal Neupane informed that 15 people, including seven policemen, have been sentenced to life imprisonment in the case. The bench of Judge Rajkumar Koirala delivered the verdict of life imprisonment under Section 171 (1) of the Muluki Penal Code 2074.

Similarly, under Section 186 of the same code, the defendants have been ordered to pay compensation of Rs 50,000 each to the next of kin of the deceased Tolangi and Balami, said Shrestedar Neupane. Investigation revealed that the victims were initially taken into custody after being accused of attempting to escape by cutting the window rod of the prison toilet, and were later beaten to death by police and other prisoners.

After the incident, seven policemen accused in the case were sent to Dhankuta and eight prisoners to Terhathum Prison. Police Assistant Inspector Laxmi Chaudhary, Police Constable Suman Gurung, Prison Security Guard Daman Singh Rai, Constable Rajkumar Shrestha, Jawan Pawan Kumar Mahato, and Security Guard Nushan Rai have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Similarly, the court’s Shrestedar Neupane informed that life imprisonment has also been handed down to Chowkidar Ram Karki, Bada Naike Anish Sharma Kattel, Sachin Rai, Sahanaike Suman Sarumgar, Tikaram Chauhan, Navin Kumar Rai, and prisoners Min Bahadur Tamang and Indradhwaj Ghimire. Following the incident, seven policemen, including the ASI in-charge of the district jail, and eight prisoners were taken into custody and an investigation was carried out. The bench of then District Court Judge Teknath Gautam had earlier ordered that the seven policemen be sent to Dhankuta and the eight prisoners to Terhathum.