Former Nepalese Minister Aftab Alam Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for 2008 Bomb Blast

Former Nepalese Minister Mohammad Aftab Alam and three others have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Rautahat District Court for their involvement in the 2008 Rajpur bomb blast case. The incident occurred on the eve of the first Constituent Assembly election, where injured victims were allegedly thrown alive into a brick kiln chimney.

The court found Alam guilty on multiple charges, including murder, for his role in the production of explosives that led to the deadly explosion at the brick kiln. In addition to Alam, his brother Mohammad Mahtab Alam, Sheikh Saraj, and Badri Sahni were also convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. One other accused, Mukti Sah, was acquitted.

Why this matters: The sentencing of a former government minister and his associates over 15 years after the crime highlights the slow pace of justice in Nepal. It also emphasizes the political violence and intimidation that has marred past elections in the country.

According to the case filed by the District Attorney's Office in Rautahat, a total of 11 individuals were charged in connection with the crime. Ten of them, including Alam, were accused of burning the injured victims alive in the brick kiln to destroy evidence. The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of at least two people, with over a dozen injured.

Alam, who was elected to the first Constituent Assembly in 2008 and later served as a minister in the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government, has consistently denied the charges against him. He was arrested in 2019, 12 years after the incident, following a Supreme Court order. The case was initially dismissed by the Office of the Attorney General in 2008 but was later revived in 2012.

The Rajpur bomb blast case has been a long-standing issue in Nepalese politics, with victims' families demanding justice for years. "The District Court has found Mohammad Aftab Alam and three others guilty in the 12-year-old Rajpur bomb blast," stated a court official following the verdict. The sentencing of Alam and his associates marks a significant step towards accountability for the heinous crime committed over a decade ago.

Key Takeaways

• Former Nepalese minister Aftab Alam sentenced to life for 2008 Rajpur bomb blast.
• Alam and 3 others convicted of murder, production of explosives leading to deadly blast.
• Incident occurred on eve of 1st Constituent Assembly election, victims burned alive.
• Case highlights slow pace of justice and political violence in Nepal's elections.
• Alam arrested in 2019, 12 years after incident, following Supreme Court order.