KATHMANDU, Feb 4: Police on Friday said four arrested persons including Reporters Club Nepal chairman Rishi Dhamala were allegedly linked with the little-known armed outfit Ranabir Sena.
Video of Dhamala at Kathmandu DAO
Organizing a press conference Wednesday afternoon at Mahendra Police Club, Kathmandu Metropolitan Police played an audio-video recording of three other arrested – Ram Shubhak, Manoj Kumar and Birendra Kumar. An audio-recording of journalist Dhamala directing Ranabir Sena’s Kathmandu Valley in-charge Ram Shubhak and bargaining over his share of the extortion amount was also played at the heavily attended press conference.
However, the authenticity of the tape recording couldn´t be verified independently.
Ranabir Sena has been involved in carrying out bomb explosions in public places and extorting from businesspersons. [break]
Police had arrested three persons — Ram Shubhak Mahato of Phulhakatti VDC-9, Siraha, Manoj Mahato a.k.a. Bianayak of Gobindapur VDC-9, Siraha and Birendra Kumar Mahato of Harshahi VDC-7, Sunsari — while they were allegedly receiving Rs 4 million from a Kathmandu-based businessman in Anamnagar area a few days ago. Police, however, did not publicize the name of the businessman, citing security reasons.
According to details given by the arrested Manoj Mahato to police, there was an agreement to provide Rs 1 million to Dhamala, 2 million to Ranabir Sena and Rs 1 million to the three arrested persons.
All the arrested happen to be working as journalists. Birendra Kumar is head of Reporters´ Club Nepal Sunsari chapter.
Police claimed Dhamala, who runs the Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu, had also reached there in the guise of a mediator, but successfully evaded undercover police then.
A permanent resident of Jyamrung VDC-9, Dhading, Dhamala was arrested Tuesday evening from the Reporters’ Club at Putalisadak, acting on particulars furnished by the three arrested earlier.
Police said they also recovered explosives from the rented room of Ram Shubhak in Kathmandu.
His alleged accomplice Birendra Kumar Mahato, who lived with him in the rented room for a few days, used to talk to Dhamala over the phone in the evening and make plans for extortions. He had recorded the conservations with Rishi on his mobile phone saying he was suspicious of their activities.
Dhamala, according to police, was found to be acting as mediator between businesspersons and Ranabir Sena cadre. In return, he would receive a certain amount of the extorted money.
Ram Shubhak has allegedly confessed to police that he is currently serving as Kathmandu Valley in-charge of the armed outfit, while Manoj Mahato has claimed to be its military commander in Kathmandu. They have also owned up to three separate bomb explosions in the capital a few weeks ago.
The three Mahatos have confessed to exploding bombs near Kathmandu Mall, Durbar High School and near Tribhuvan International Airport gate a few weeks ago. Police claim that they have said in a video that Dhamala had taken safety guarantees for Ranabir Sena cadres in Kathmandu.
Police did not make public the arrested journalists including Dhamala at Wednesday’s press conference.
Addressing the press conference, Additional Inspector General Ramesh Kumar Shrestha, chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan Police, said they would make the arrested persons public after a few days of investigation.
Earlier on Wednesday, Dhamala was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. The chief district officer (CDO) remanded Dhamala to judicial custody at the request of police who said they needed more time to carry out investigations.
Speaking to journalists when he was being taken before the District Administration Office (DAO) earlier Wednesday afternoon, Dhamala said his arrest was "a plot" by the state.
Talking to myrepublica.com, Kathmandu CDO Bhola Siwakoti said three others were remanded for 15-day on Tuesday pending detailed investigations.
Meanwhile, Freedom Forum filed a habeas corpus petition at the Supreme Court Wednesday, seeking Dhamala’s immediate release.
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