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.

KATHMANDU, Aug 15: The Police have arrested News24 television journalist Rabi Lamichhane from his office on Thursday evening.

Kathmandu Metropolitan Police, in the request of District Police Office, Chitwan, apprehended Lamichhane from News24 office to interrogate in connection with the suicide of journalist Salikram Pudasaini, according to sources.

Pudasaini, a Mountain Television journalist, was found hanging by a ceiling fan in Room 202 at Hotel Kangaroo in Narayangadh of Chitwan under mysterious circumstances on August 5.

Police had recovered two videos from Pudasaini’s mobile phone which he had recorded before killing himself.

In the videos, which was accessed and released by Nepal Aaja on its online portal a day ago, Pudasaini has stated that Lamichhane had driven him to the point where he had nothing left but to end his own life. Pudasaini had also mentioned names of Yuvraj Kandel and Asmita Karki in the video.

Pudasaini had been working for Lamichhane’s program Sidha Kura Janata Sanga two months ago before hosting Mission News on Mountain TV.

Police have also arrested Kandel and Karki for further investigation.

Lamichhane will be taken to Chitwan for further investigation, sources said.

Related Coverage:

Pudasaini recorded two videos on mobile before committing suicide: Police

Death in Media: Aggravated Suicide of Journalist Salikram Pudasaini

“The money that you have earned will burn you someday, Rabi you have driven me to this point where I have nothing left but to end my own life, I hope you are convicted for my death according to Nepalese law”.  ( Late Journalist Salikram Pudasaini in his final video )

A video has surfaced on online media portal which shows late journalist Salikram Pudasaini disheartened and ululating. In a video accessed and released by Nepal Aaja, Salikram can be seen taking names of prominent media figure Rabi Lamichhane, Yuvraj Kandel, and Asmita Karki.

This video said to be recorded just before Salikram commits suicide narrates events that unfolded that brought him to take this drastic measure.  He states that “I was living a comfortable life running a security business earning 1.5 lakhs a month”.  

Journalist Salikram also has spoken at length on various ways in which huge amounts of money was collected from different business spectrums while he was largely underpaid, overworked and accrued debt.

The entire episode took a drastic turn when Salikram was founding hanging in Kangaroo Hotel near Narayanghat Bus Park on the 5th of August. He was working for Mountain News and hosting “Mission News”. On the other hand Rabi Lamichhane is an acclaimed journalist working for News 24.

At this point it is unsure, and there are several questions that go unanswered. Foremost being why Salikram left his business and started working in a largely underpaid job. Secondly, his failed relationship as he mentions with Asmita who apparently is a healthcare professional.

A thorough investigation is required to bring matters to light, but if at all the accused are guilty, then justice should be given to late journalist Salikram Pudaisaini. From this video that has surfaced and is increasing the rounds of social media, it appears to be a suicide that was aggravated by several factors, such as workplace bullying, and extreme exploitation.

Police investigation is underway, and more information is yet to ascertain whether this was aggravated suicide or is it something more that would amount to culpable homicide.  Uncertainty will prolong as new facts emerge as to why a popular journalist in Nepal was driven to the point of taking his own life.