They shared their predicament to the lawyers representing the Nuwakot chapter of Nepal Bar Association and the members of Federation of Nepali Journalists on Monday.

Rahul Lama, who is serving jail time for human trafficking, said he and many of his prison mates did not have the money to keep lawyers to appeal their cases and demanded that the government should see to their need.

Jailer Jagadish Aryal said that some inmates have been ignored by their families as well. When he contacted the father of Shankhar Nepali, who is doing time for kidnapping conviction, the latter refused to help his son. Aryal said it was difficult for prisoners like Shankhar who have been ignored by their own families.

 Chairman of Nuwakot chapter of FNJ said the flaw was in the country’s justice system because the prisoners should have the right to counsel. If the inmates cannot afford a lawyer, he said, the government should provide them one.  The 80-capacity district jail holds 154 male and 12 female inmates.