Resham Chaudhary, the main accused in Tikapur incident, and 24 other co-accused have started fast unto death in Kailali District Prison from Sunday.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sagar Bohara said, “Chaudhary along with 24 others started hunger strike from 5:45pm in the district prison. All inmates

staging hunger strike are accused in the Tikapur incident.”

The 25 accused men remain in judicial custody for their alleged involvement in Tikapur incident. Eight security personnel and a two-year-old child were killed during that violent incident in 2015. The accused started their hunger strike to highlight various demands.

Kailali District Court remanded Chaudhary in judicial custody on February 26 after he surrendered to the court the same day. Chaudhary won the federal parliament election from Kailali-1 as Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) representative. His whereabouts were unknown even after his poll victory.

The protesters demand Chaudhary should receive election victory certificate and allow him to take oath of office and secrecy. They also demand the release of all 26 accused in Tikapur incident with due compensation and fulfill the demands raised by Tharuhat Struggle Committee. They warned to continue their hunger strike unless the authorities concerned fulfill their demands. 

According to the district prison administration, the Kailali accused made two groups and started their strike. Chaudhary and 15 others are in one group while nine others are in a different group.

Chaudhary disappeared despite his thumping victory in the federal parliament elections. He unexpectedly appeared at the court on February 26 and recorded his statement. Following the hearings from plaintiff and defendant, the district court gave its verdict to remand Chaudhary in judicial custody.

A charge-sheet was filed against 56 people, including Chaudhary, for their alleged involvement in the Tikapur incident that took place in August, 2015. Chaudhary is one of the main accused of the Tikapur incident in which eight security personnel, including then Seti Zonal Police Chief SSP Laxman Neupane, and a two-year-old child were killed during the Tharuhat agitation demanding a separate province. Tension had escalated in the area then due to sporadic clashes between supporters of Tharuhat and that of the undivided Farwest.

Authorities have detained the 25 accused at the district prison for judicial investigation. Chaudhary’s file lists three different cases - murder, attempted murder and robbery. For the last one year the case remains pending in court.

Chaudhary had filed his candidacy as the RJP-N candidate for the federal parliament using ‘Power of Attorney’. He obtained 34,341 votes to beat his closest rival by 20,935 votes. The Election Commission refused to give victory certificate to the representative of absconding Chaudhary. He had also tried to register a writ petition at the Supreme Court through his wife, seeking issuance of his victory certificate, but the apex court refused to register the writ.