/// Press Releases \\\

Call for Security and Protection of the Eyewitness

INSEC expresses concern over the security of Gauri Shankar Ram, 43, the surviving witness of the Rautahat bomb incident. It is urgent to provide security for Gaurishankar, who was injured in the bomb explosion that occurred on the evening of 9 April 2008 at the house of Sheikh Idrish, uncle of Mohammad Aftab Alam, in Rajpur, Rautahat.Two people were killed and more than 20 others were injured in the explosion. Member of Parliament and former minister Mohammad Aftab Alam was accused of burning Trilok Pratap Singh, Oshi Akhtar, and other injured individuals alive in a brick kiln.

Police arrested Alam on 6 October 2019, and the Rautahat District Court sentenced him to life imprisonment on 25 April 2024. The court considered Gauri Shankar’s statement and his medical report as key evidence and also issued an order to the government to ensure his protection. After the bench of Judges Dr. Khusi Prasad Tharu and Arjun Maharjan at the Birgunj bench of the Janakpur High Court overturned the district court’s verdict on 28 May 2025 and acquitted Aalam, Gaurishankar Ram came to Kathmandu stating that his safety is at risk. We call on the government to ensure the security of Gauri Shankar Ram Chamar, 43, who is both an eyewitness and a victim of the bomb explosion. A week after the incident, INSEC had conducted a field visit and, based on interactions with various individuals and gathered facts, published a detailed report.

Dr. Kundan Aryal

Chairperson