Police on Saturday made public four of the five people who they said were behind the murder of a Supreme Court judge over leadership of a political party more than two-and-a-half years ago.
Addressing a press conference, the police said the alleged mastermind behind the murder of Justice Ran Bahadur Bam in May 2012 was Babu Thapa, a former leader of the Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekta Party. The judge was murdered while returning after offering prayers at a temple in Kathmandu. His bodyguard and one of his friends accompanying were also shot. Later, Justice Bam succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
One of the accused is said to be in Saudi Arabia.
DIG Hemanta Malla said that Thapa had told them that he had plotted the murder of Justice Bam after the judge ruled against his claim to be leading the official Ekta Party.
Thapa was vice-chairman of the party and Keshav Mainali the chairman before they fell out over leadership of the fledgling party. According to the police, the two factions had formed two separate central committees by holding their own general conventions. While the Election Commission recognised Thapa-led group’s claim over the party, Justice Bam issued an interim order in favour of Mr. Mainali.
