Govt withdraws case against Rishi Dhamala

The government has decided to withdraw case of arms and ammunitions filed against president of Reporters’ Club Rishi Dhamala.

A cabinet meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Singha Durbar, Sunday took this decision.

Dhamala was arrested and jailed for his alleged involvement with an underground armed outfit Ranavir Sena.

Two other journalists Birendra K M and Ram Shuvak Mahato were also arrested with Dhamala. KM and Mahato are still serving their prison terms at Dillibazar central jail, while Dhamala was released on general bail about three months ago.

Ranavir Sena is accused of bombing various places in and outside Kathmandu and extorting businessmen.

Recently, police had arrested the deputy-commander of Ranavir Sena Binod Pandey, from its headquarter cum mini-lab for producing arms.

Dhamala is considered to have very close relations with foreign minister and leader of Nepali Congress team in the government Sujata Koirala.

The cabinet meeting has also decided to dissolve Hospital Development Committees of all districts. The HDCs were dissolved as the government decided to make alternative arrangements, spokesperson of the government and minister for information and communication Shankar Pokhrel said. The alternate arrangement was not decided, he said.