Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has condemned the arrest of those accused of murdering Dailekh-based journalist Dekendra Thapa eight years ago.
Speaking at a book launch on Tuesday, Bhattarai said, "The government does not endorse their arrest, nor did it instruct the police to do so." He added that human rights workers had blown the case out of proportion, and that such behaviour could derail the peace process.
Lawyers say that Bhattarai's public support of the accused will affect proper investigation of a case in which the state itself pressed charges. Nepal Bar Association president Prem Bahadur Khadka told Nepali Times, "To make such declarations about a case currently under investigation is to disregard the rule of law."
The PM's statements come after Dailekh locals Lakshmi Ram Gharti, Hari Lal Pun, Bir Bahadur KC, Nirak Bahadur Gharti, Jaya Bahadur Gharti were arrested by police on 4 January in connection to the murder of journalist Thapa. One of the accused admitted that they buried Thapa alive after torturing him.