Saptari – The property of Omprakash Mandal, Chairperson of Rajgadh Rural Municipality and a fugitive in a murder case, has been frozen. The Land Reform and Revenue Office in Saptari took this action on Friday.
According to a letter received from the District Police Office, Saptari, the freeze applies not only to Chairperson Mandal but also to his father, Gangaram Mandal, the former chair of Belhichapena Rural Municipality, said Kishor Ram, head of the Land Reform and Revenue Office. He added, “The police office’s letter covers the chairperson and his father, and the properties of five other individuals are also being traced and will be frozen as well.”
The Saptari Police had sent a letter to the then District Land Revenue Office in 2079 BS requesting the freezing of properties belonging to the chairperson and six others. However, the Land Reform and Revenue Office had not implemented the freeze at that time. On 25 Jestha 2079 BS, former Police Inspector Bhanu Khadka had again communicated the request to freeze the assets.
Omprakash Mandal is among seven accused who are absconding in connection with the 2055 BS murder of Jantreedas Bairagi, a priest at Ramjanaki Temple in Saptari. Mandal has been serving as the Rural Municipality Chairperson for over three and a half years after being elected through the UML party.
The other accused in the case include Gangaram Mandal, Ramnarayan Mandal, Ramdev Sada Musahar, Manik Sharma, Bachcha Yadav (Bauka), and Bholichhan Sada Musahar. The District Court, Saptari, had kept the case pending since 22 Asar 2075 BS. Despite warrants being issued, the police have reportedly shown little effort in apprehending the accused.
