The hearing on the 2004 murder case of Krishna Prasad Adhikari of Fujel, Gorkha, by the then Maoist rebels has been postponed again. 

This is the 15th time the hearing has been put off. The hearing, which was scheduled for October 29, has been rescheduled for December 11. 

The case is sub judice at the District Court, Chitwan, and according to the court’s section officer, Gambhir Ghimire, the newly appointed judge at the court, Kul Prasad Sharma, was supposed to look after the case. The hearing date was put off after the defence lawyer, Gopal Shiwakoti, notified the court that he would not be able to take part in the hearing on October 29. 

Thirteen suspects have been named in connection to Krishna Prasad’s abduction and subsequent murder on June 6, 2004. Seven of the suspects, who were arrested years after the incident, were released on bail while four others were released on general date. Two other suspects are still at large.

Later the Appellate Court, Hetauda in July, 2014 upheld the District Court decision in response to a case filed seeking permission to start investigations into the case. 

The accused in the case are Chhabilal Poudel, Januka Poudel, Rudra Acharya, Bhimsen Poudel, Ajib Poudel, Kali Prasad Adhikari, Hemlal Adhikari, Sita Adhikari, Ram Prasad Adhikari (A), Ram Prasad Adhikari (B), Meghnath Poudel, Subhadra Tiwari and Bishnu Tiwari. 

Krishna Prasad’s father, Nanda Prasad, died following 11 months of hunger strike in September, 2014, while seeking justice for his murdered son. 

Krishna Prasad’s mother, Ganga Maya, is still staging a hunger strike at the Capital’s Bir Hospital.