SATV March 31, Kathmandu: Rastriya Prajatantra Party Senior Vice-President Rabindra Mishra and General Secretary Dhawal Shamsher Rana, who were arrested during the protest in favour of the restoration of the monarchy, have been charged with treason.
The bench of Kathmandu District Court (KDC) Judge Taradevi Maharjan extended their remand for five days to investigate, according to the court's information officer, Deepak Kumar Shrestha. The police will now be able to detain them until Tuesday, with the court's permission.
Police investigating the Tinkune incident today presented 11 people, including RPP leader Mishra and lawmaker Rana, to the district court for detention on crime against state charges.
Mishra was handcuffed and brought before the Kathmandu court for an extension of his remand, but General Secretary Rana was not handcuffed. Rana is a Lower House member.
Earlier, Ramhari Sharma Kafle, chief of the district public prosecutor's office, Kathmandu, said plans were afoot to extend the remand period because it appears that they will be charged with crimes against the state after the preliminary investigation.
He stated that, in addition to them, 31 others had been brought before the court to have their remands extended on charges of criminal mischief and organised crime.
Furthermore, a public appeal has been issued for complaints and other information from stakeholders regarding those involved in the incident.
Kafle, the district prosecutor's office chief, stated that if the accused are found to be involved in other crimes while the probe is ongoing, they will be presented in court and their remand would be extended accordingly.
The police have arrested around 100 people, but only 42 have been brought to court, and the investigation has progressed. The arrestees, including Swagat Nepal, were released on bail.
On March 28, royalist protesters vandalised homes, shops, a hospital, a political party office, vehicles, and a shopping mall and seized a weapon from police.
The United People's Movement Committee led by Nawaraj Subedi supported Durga Prasai's pro-monarchy protest, as did the RPP and RPP Nepal.
Mishra and Nawaraj Subedi, who is under house arrest, were member secretaries of the committee, and General Secretary Rana served on the movement mobilisation committee. Durga Prasai was designated as the 'people's commander. Mishra and Rana are accused of inciting the protesters.
Prasai has been on the run since Friday's violent protests. On Sunday, he posted a video on Facebook stating that he was staying at a temple in the capital.
Meanwhile, Kathmandu Metropolitan City imposed a Rs 793,000 fine on former monarch Gyanendra Shah for issuing eight letters.
The city issued the fine for several offences, including littering the streets and sidewalks, breaking railings and vandalising fire engines used to extinguish fires during the pro-monarchy demonstration. The city police went to Nirmal Niwas today to deliver the letters, but they were compelled to return after the former monarch refused to accept it. As per the city police, the letter was delivered to Nirmal Niwas via postal service.
On the other hand, police have arrested a man who stole a gun from an Armed Police Force officer, as well as nine other people who looted the Bhatbhateni supermarket. However, the police reported that the gas gun he stole had not been found.
Gopal Malla, 38, of Sainamaina Municipality in Rupandehi, is the suspect in the gun theft. Malla, who currently lives in Tarakeshwar 10, Kathmandu, was apprehended by police in Bhimsen Gola.
