Conflict-period murder convict Dhungel released after presidential pardon

The government has released former Maoist leader Balkrishna Dhungel convicted of a murder after granting him presidential pardon on the occasion of Republic Day.
The government had recommended to the President for waiver of the rest of his sentence as per the provision of clemency for those convicts who have served 40 percent of sentence and displayed good behavior.
“I am neither happy nor disappointed,” Dhungel said on release from Dilli Bazar Jail Tuesday morning. Claiming that he struggled for republican system of governance he stated he will spend the rest of his live to protect it.
Dhungel, who was moving freely despite the Supreme Court (SC) slapping a life sentence on him on a murder case, was arrested from Patan on October 31, 2107 after Dinesh Tripathi lodged a contempt of court against the then Nepal Police IGP Prakash Aryal for not implementing the court’s order.
Dhungel was charged of murdering Ujjan Kumar Shrestha in Tarkerabari-7, Okhaldhunga on June 24, 1998, during the Maoist insurgency due to personal animosity.
Okhaldhunga District Court had sentenced Dhungel to life imprisonment along with confiscation of all property for the murder of Shrestha on May 10, 2004. The Appellate Court Rajbiraj overruled the verdict and acquitted Dhungel on June 25, 2006. But the SC upheld the district court verdict on January 3, 2010.
Dhungel had become Constituent Assembly member from Okhaldhunga-2 on Maoist ticket by the time the SC upheld the district court verdict, and the Apex Court’s verdict was not implemented.