The Kathmandu District Court has extended the remand of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Senior Vice-chairman Rabindra Mishra, Durga Prasai, and 23 others, who were arrested in connection with the Tinkune incident, by five days.
According to Superintendent of Police Apil Raj Bohara at the District Police Range, Kathmandu, the court on Tuesday granted permission to keep 25 individuals, including Mishra and Prasai, in custody for five more days for investigation.
Mishra, also the member secretary of the “Joint People's Movement Committee” led by Nawaraj Subedi, was arrested on March 28. He has been in police custody since then.
On March 28, royalists held a protest led by Durga Prasai, who was designated “People’s Commander” by the Subedi-led committee, in Tinkune of Kathmandu.
The protest turned violent, resulting in the deaths of two people, and arson attacks on private homes, government vehicles, party offices, and a herb processing center.
Both the RPP and the Subedi-led committee had expressed their support for the protest organized by Prasai.
Police arrested Mishra on charges of involvement in the Tinkune incident and are investigating him with the court's permission.
RPP General Secretary Dhawal Shumsher Rana, also a member of the movement mobilization committee under the Subedi-led committee, was arrested along with Mishra. While Rana was released on personal guarantee for medical treatment, the police have continued their investigation against Mishra.
Police are investigating Mishra for offenses against the state, organized crime, and criminal mischief.
Meanwhile, Mishra’s wife Sarika Karki filed the petition on his behalf in the court on Tuesday, claiming that Mishra is being unlawfully detained.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has been named as the defendant in the petition.
Mishra's side argues that the police have not released him on personal guarantee even though his statement has already been recorded.
Hearing on the petition has been scheduled for Wednesday.
The RPP has been organizing various programs demanding Mishra's release, while a relay hunger strike has been ongoing in Jawalakhel of Lalitpur for the past 12 days.
