Rabi Lamichhane presented before court amid protest

KATHMANDU, Aug 16: Television presenter Rabi Lamichhane, along with Yuvraj Kandel and Asmita Karki, has been presented before the Chitwan District Court amid protest on Friday.

Lamichhane, a prominent media figure and host of popular television program Sidha Kura Janta Sanga, was arrested from the Kathmandu-based News24 office on Thursday evening in connection with the apparent suicide of journalist Salikram Pudasaini. Kandel and Karki were also arrested in the same connection.

Thousands of Lamichhane supports have gathered in front of the District Court and District Police office since morning demanding Lamichhane’s release.

If the court permits, Lamichhane can be kept in custody for 25 days in charge of encouraging Pudasaini to commit suicide.

Lamichhane and Kandel were arrested yesterday after a video surfaced on social media on Wednesday which created a stir in social media. The video shows Pudasaini in his final moments before ending his life. He narrates his frustration and desperation being overworked and underpaid holding Lamichhane and Kandel ‘responsible’ for his decision to end his life.

Pudasaini, a Mountain Television journalist, was found hanging by a ceiling fan at Hotel Kangaroo in Narayangadh of Chitwan under mysterious circumstances on August 5, according to police.

According to police, Lamichhane was planning to air a program regarding Pudasaini’s suicide on Sidha Kura Janta Sanga on Thursday before his arrest.