Laxiram Gharti, Bir Bahadur KC, Jaya Bahadur Shahi, Harilal Pun and Nirak Gharti were remanded to custody for further probe.

The Court also issued an arrest warrant order for four other accused in the case. The others involved in the killing of journalist Thapa are absconding so far. The absconding are Bam Bahadur Khadka, Bam Bahadur Khadka, Keshab Bahadur Khadka and Bhaktiram Lamichhane.

Journalist Thapa was murdered after abduction by the then rebel party’s cadres on August 11, 2004 during the insurgency period.

DAILEKH: As an attempt to show strength against the government and the ruling parties, the opposition parties are holding a mass meeting in Dailekh district today.

The district headquarters of Dailekh, Dullu, had turned into a battlefield some days ago after the opposition cadres and Maoists clashed while the UCPN (Maoist) was organizing its district convention.

Top leaders of the opposition parties including Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala, CPN (UML) leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal Chairman Chitra Bahadur KC and others are scheduled to address the meeting.

Similarly, most of the Dailekh-based journalists were displaced citing security threats by the Maoist cadres.

Meanwhile, UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal has accused Nepal’s incumbent Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai of being the cruellest and the most foolish politician in the history. “Pushpa Kamal Dahal is also a criminal for giving inspiration to such person,” the UML leader came heavily down on the Maoists. He even told the journalists that the people would never ever vote for the Maoists. “People did mistake by voting for the Maoists,” he charged.

Dailekh-based journalists were displaced last Wednesday due to security threats after the UCPN (Maoist) cadres issued life threats to some journalists.

Earlier, the government and the UCPN (Maoist) had urged the displaced the journalists to return the district assuring them of full security and professional guarantee.

Meanwhile, the political parties welcomed the Dailekh-based journalists upon their arrival in the districts.