The government has refused to drop criminal charges against protesters allegedly involved in the Kailali carnage and the killing of an assistant police inspector in Mahottari last year before final court hearing while agreeing to immediately withdraw charges against others arrested during the five-month long protest.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi on Friday informed Madhesi leaders about the government’s preparations to withdraw criminal charges in two phases.

Leaders engaged in the discussion with Nidhi said the government was working to drop cases against protesters charged with less serious crimes or those yet to face trial in the court in the first phase.

“He [Nidhi] told us that the government would withdraw charges immediately after the court’s final hearing. I believe the government will take some decisions next week,” Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato, who on Friday discussed the issue with Nidhi, told the Post.

Nidhi made it clear that the government would wait for the final hearing before taking any decision on cases sub judice in courts.

Although it is possible to withdraw cases with the court’s permission, the government appears reluctant to do so fearing a public backlash.

Sources said that the government was under pressure from the Nepal Police not to withdraw charges against protesters who were arrested in connection with the Kailali carnage and the lynching of the junior police officer.

Some 100 people are facing trial in connection with the killing of 11 policemen during the agitation over state restructuring. Senior police officials are irked with the government for protecting leaders who allegedly incited the violence.

The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, and the Tharuhat/Tharuwan Joint Struggle Committee, an alliance of Tharu groups, have been pressing the government to withdraw charges claiming them to be politically motivated. The agitating parties claim that more than 500 people were arrested during demonstrations across the Tarai.