Freedom Forum welcomes Janakpurdham High Court's verdict of life imprisonment to the murder convict of media entrepreneur Arun Singhaniya. The Court issued the verdict on September 21, 2022. Singhaniya, the then chairman of Janakpur Today Media Group was shot dead on March 1, 2010 at a local Shiva Chowk of Janakpur. Janakpurdham lies in Madhesh Province of Nepal.
The High Court sentenced life imprisonment to the suspended lawmaker and former Minister of State Sanjay Kumar Saha who was declared the mastermind of the murder.According to FF's reports, Shinghaniya's son Rahul had filed a complaint at the District Police Office, Dhanusha on April 9, 2010. In the complaint, he accused Chandra Dip Yadav from Bharatpur Ward No 8 of Dhanusha, Bijay Kushiyat and Dipendra Kushiyat from Ward No 1 of same place, Ram Binod Yadav from Kakanpatti Ward No 1, Pavan Lama from Bharatpur Ward No 8, Manak Lama from Uma Prempur Ward No 2, Yogendra Sahani from Yagyabhumi Ward No 5, Anshi Rai from Bharatpur Ward No 9 and four others with names unidentified of involving in his father's murder.
Among others, Manak Lama, Chandra Dip Yadav, Mukesh Chaudhary, Eklal Sahani and Anshi Rai have been serving their jail term. Suspended Lawmaker Saha was also serving jail term for his involvement in a bomb blast at Ramanand Chowk, Janakpur on April 30, 2012.
FF is happy to share the story as it would contribute to reducing impunity for crimes against journalists. Though late, the long pending impunity case has been addressed providing justice to the victim's family. FF further urges the concerned authority to continue investigations and address remaining cases of impunity relating to crimes against journalists. The present court verdict has upheld the morale of working journalist, media fraternity and FoE advocates.
For more information, Freedom Forum monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
