The Chitwan District Court has slated the hearing on the murder case of Krishna Prasad Adhikari of Fujel, Gorkha, who was killed during the armed conflict, for Sunday.

The case, sub judice at District Court Chitwan, has drawn widespread public attention as it had been postponed over a dozen times. The murder case was filed at Chitwan District Court on 13 April, 2014.

Even though the court heard arguments of both plaintiff and defence lawyers about 18 months ago, the verdict on the case has been pending due to repeated rescheduling of final hearing. The lawyers held the last discussion on the case in September, 2016. Then District Court Judge Tek Narayan Kunwan had then asked the lawyers to put forth their arguments in writing.

The court is supposed to declare its verdict after hearing the lawyers.

In November 2017, the hearing date was put off after defence lawyer Gopal Shiwakoti filed an appeal citing that he would not be able to take part in the discussions on the case that day.

Krishna Adhikari, of Gorkha, allegedly murdered on June 6, 2004 by cadres of then rebel CPN-Maoist, when he had gone to visit his grandparents in Ratnanagar, Chitwan. The deceased’s brother Nur Prasad and father Nanda Prasad had filed a case with police.

Victim's father Nanda Prasad Adhikari had filed a complaint against some individuals citing their involvement in the 2004 murder of his son. After one and half year, his elder son Nur Prasad had registered an application naming 13 individuals as responsible for his brother's killing, prompting the court to proceed with the case. Later, among the accused, seven were released on bail while four on general date. Two had not come into contact with the court.

Later the Appellate Court, Hetauda in July, 2014 upheld the District Court decision in response to a case filed seeking permission to start investigations into the case.

The accused in the case are Chhabilal Poudel, Januka Poudel, Rudra Acharya, Bhimsen Poudel, Ajib Poudel, Kali Prasad Adhikari, Hemlal Adhikari, Sita Adhikari, Ram Prasad Adhikari (A), Ram Prasad Adhikari (B), Meghnath Poudel, Subhadra Tiwari and Bishnu Tiwari.

It may be noted that Nanda Prasad succumbed to his 11-month hunger strike in September, 2014 while seeking justice for his murdered son and his body is still in the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. His wife Ganga Maya has been surviving on liquid at the Bir Hospital in her bid to exert pressure to the State to bring murderers of her son to book.