Kathmandu District Court on Thursday convicted six student leaders affiliated with the ruling Nepali Congress for attacking Prem Chalaune, a lecturer at Tribhuvan University, and injuring him severely.

A single bench of judge Binod Khatiwada convicted Hari Acharya, Yogendra Rawal, Rupesh Sah, Nabin Kumar Lama, Niraj Ranamagar and Sayuj Shrestha of two years in jail and slapped fines of Rs20,000 each. They were convicted as per clause 192 (5) of the Criminal Code.

"Also provide Rs2.8 million in compensation to the plaintiff [victim]," reads the order. A case of attempted murder was lodged against the culprits.

Chalaune, who teaches sociology at the university campus in Kirtipur, was brutally assaulted on campus premises on October 6, 2020 by a gang including Acharya, TU chapter president of the Nepali Congress-affiliated Nepal Students Union (NSU); Rawal, secretary of the same organisation; along with other members of the union.

Chalaune had sustained serious injuries on his head, chest and thighs, and spent a month in hospital. As the assailants enjoyed close ties with the ruling party, the Pushpa Kamal Dahal Cabinet on June 13 decided to withdraw the cases against them even as a case of attempted murder against the assailants was sub judice at the district court.

The decision was widely criticised but Dahal’s ministers defended it saying that Chalaune had provoked the students. Intervening against the decision, the Supreme Court on June 22 ordered no implementation of the decision to withdraw the cases.

Chalaune had staged a hunger strike against the government's decision while also challenging it in the Supreme Court.