Court Sentences Six NSU Workers to Prison for Attack on University Professor

The Kathmandu District Court has handed down a two-year prison sentence and a fine of Rs 20,000 each to six members of the Nepal Student Union (NSU), the student wing affiliated with the Nepali Congress. The verdict is in connection to an attack on Tribhuvan University Assistant Professor Prem Chalaune that occurred three years ago.

The court, presided over by Judge Binod Khatiwada, issued the sentence and fine on Thursday, while also acquitting one of the accused, Deepak Ojha, as confirmed by the court’s information officer, Deepak Dahal.

The convicted individuals, identified as NSU TU Committee President Hari Acharya, Secretary Yogendra Rawal, Sayuj Shrestha, Niraj Rana Magar, Rupesh Shah, and Rabin Lama, were found guilty of assaulting Professor Chalaune on October 6, 2020, at Tribhuvan University.

Alongside the sentences, the court has ordered restitution of Rs 2,817,000, representing the total cost incurred during Professor Chalaune’s medical treatment. Despite the court’s decision, Chalaune expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the attackers had intended to kill him, and he had hoped for an attempt to murder charge rather than just a battery conviction.

In a response to the court’s decision, Professor Chalaune commented, “This has given me partial justice. My demand is that they should be immediately jailed now.” Chalaune had previously challenged a government decision to withdraw the case, leading to a Supreme Court intervention that prevented the implementation of the withdrawal. The accused had faced charges of both battery and attempted murder.

The case gained attention after a Cabinet meeting on June 13 decided to withdraw the charges against the NSU members. In response, Professor Chalaune moved to the Supreme Court and initiated a hunger strike against the Cabinet’s decision. The hunger strike was later called off after the apex court issued an interim order preventing the withdrawal of the case.

This recent verdict raises questions about the handling of cases involving attacks on educators and the justice system’s approach to addressing such incidents. The legal proceedings, along with Professor Chalaune’s response, are expected to contribute to ongoing discussions on student activism and accountability in Nepal’s educational institutions.