The appellate court in Janakpur has directed the District Police Office and the District Administration Office in Mahottari to investigate into the killing of Rambibek Yadav, who was allegedly shot dead by security personnel during the Tarai protest in Jaleshwor on September 9, 2015.

Police and local administration in Mahottari had refused to register the first incident report (FIR) following Rambibek’s death. On March 27,Rambibek’s family  filed a writ of mandamus at the appellate court, seeking order for an impartial and time-bound investigation into the incident by filing an FIR.

A joint bench of Judge Sheshraj Shivakoti and Judge Purosottam Bhandari on Tuesday directed the police and the local administration in Mahottari to launch a probe into Rambibek’s death.

 Rambibek’s family has claimed that security personnel had gunned him down while he was watching the protest from afar.

Bikru Yadav, the lawyer representing Rambibek’s family, said it was the first instance of a court ordering the government authorities to investigate the death that occurred during the Tarai protest. 

“It could serve as a precedent in other cases of deaths and injuries perpetrated by law enforcement agencies in the name of quelling the Tarai protest,” Yadav said.