Five former Maoists in Nepal were today sentenced to up to two years in prison for torturing and killing a journalist during the Maoists insurgency in 2004, becoming the first verdict to be pronounced into the killings during the decade-long conflict.
A single bench of Justice Dilli Ratna Shrestha pronounced the verdict into the death of Dekendra Raj Thapa, who was kidnapped and killed in Dailekh district of western Nepal.
He was working for Radio Nepal, the National broadcasting service.
The five former Maoists have been sentenced to up to two years in prison, Ekantipur reported.
Thapa's wife had filed a case on January 28, 2013, against nine district cadres and leaders of then rebel Maoists. The chargesheet was filed five years after she lodged the complaint with the police.
Shrestha, in his verdict, has ordered the release of two defendants Bir Bahadur KC and Laxmi Gharti as they have completed their jail term.
According to the verdict, another defendant Nirak Gharti Magar has to serve another one month in jail and other defendants Hari Lal Pun and Jaya Bahadur Shahi have been directed to remain in jail for another four months and 29 days.
Meanwhile, the court has decided to keep on hold the chargesheets against the other four accused who are on the run. Bam Bahadur Khadka, Bam Bahadur Khadka, Keshav Khadka and Bhakti Ram Lamichhane have been absconding.
Thapa had left the district headquarters to meet some local Maoist leaders to discuss the resumption of water supply to the Dailekh town that was cut off by the Maoists. He was captured on the way, tortured for days and buried alive.
Thapa was also the chairman of a local drinking water project.
The Nepalese Civil War was an armed conflict between government forces and Maoist fighters in Nepal which lasted from 1996 until 2006.
Over 15,000 people were killed and an estimated 1,00,000 to 1,50,000 people were internally displaced as a result of the conflict.
