Businessman Ram Hari's murder backfires Maoist

Normal life was paralysed in Nepalese capital Kathmandu on Wednesday due to the banda called by the relatives of businessman Ram Hari Shrestha who was killed by the Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA) after severe beating and torture. The banda was organized by Shrestha's kin in support of the student wings of different political parties. The capital city that was seeing a continuous protest for a few days took a form of banda on Wednesday as the CPN-Maoist failed to convince the victim’s family. This case has given a serious blow to the Maoist which has emerged as the largest party of Nepal after Constituent Assembly (CA) elections, say analysts.

The banda announced in the capital city for the first time after the CA was held has created reservation to the people who have expected lasting peace and end of strike and banda after they casted the votes and established the Maoist as the largest party of Nepal. The Maoist has been facing the most enormous criticism that the leaders of the Maoist are hardly able to keep the promises that their cadres will end the unruly activities, even up to the incidents of killings people.

Businessman Shrestha’s murder took a new turn after a doctor at Chitwan Medical College yesterday revealed that he died at the hospital and not on the way to the capital as had been stated by the Maoists.

Earlier, the Maoists had said that Shrestha died at midnight on May 10 on the Bhaludhunga section of the Mugling-Narayan highway on the way to the capital for treatment. The Maoist had said that Ram Hari died after he was beaten up by the cadres stating that the Maoist has already initiated action against them.

Businessman Shrestha was taken to the Shaktipur cantonment of the Maoist for 'the investigation of the money theft case' and was beaten by the PLA though the sum was found in the room being used by the Maoist cadres themselves at Shrestha's home.

A struggle committee formed by Shrestha’s relatives and Koteshwor residents called the valley bandha demanding that the body of Shrestha be returned to the family.

The struggle committee have demanded that the Maoist Chairman Prachanda should apologize in public taking responsibility for the murder, a high level probe commission should be set up and stern action taken against the guilty Maoists. On Sunday, Maoist Chairman Prachanda had issued a statement based on the report prepared by PLA men denying any link to Shrestha’s murder.

The analysts say it will be difficult for Maoist who has been claiming to be the leader in the government to be formed if it fails to publicly apologize guilty and can convince the public.

In the meanwhile, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FNCCI)  issuing a press release on Wednesday, has condemned the murder of businessman Shrestha. It has also demanded the formation of high level probe commission to investigate the incident and to take action involved in the crime.