The Rautahat District Attorney’s Office on Monday filed a charge sheet against Mohammad Aftab Alam, a Nepali Congress lawmaker, in connection with the explosion and the subsequent murder of at least 23 people in Rautahat 12 years ago.

“A charge sheet has been filed against Alam and 10 others at the Ratahat District Court, seeking life imprisonment,” said Khadindraraj Katawal, the district attorney.
The charge sheet prescribes legal action against the defendants under various criminal charges, including murder, attempted murder, and holding and transporting explosive materials.

The District Attorney’s Office also seeks adequate compensation to the families of the victims in the 39-page long charge sheet.
The District Police Office had submitted a detailed investigation report to the District Attorney’s Office on Friday.

Alam was presented at the court on Monday amid tight security. His supporters had gathered outside the court, shouting for his release.
The court is set to record Alam’s statement on Tuesday. The hearing is also scheduled to begin on the same day.

Alam, who was arrested on October 13, is accused of burning alive the victims injured in the explosion that occurred on April 9, 2008, on the eve of the first Constituent Assembly elections.

The victims are said to be the supporters of Alam and that they were caught in the blast while allegedly preparing an improvised explosive device to terrorise rival voters.
In the wake of the explosion, Alam had reportedly instructed his henchmen to ferry the injured persons to a brick kiln and burn them alive.

Alam has so far denied all the allegations. But, despite his innocence claim, he had recently refused to undergo a polygraph test.

Alam was elected to the federal parliament from Rautahat-2 in the 2017 elections. He was also elected to the first Constituent Assembly from Rautahat-2 in 2008.
Alam has also served as a minister under various governments in the past.