Three Arrested for Assaulting Birgunj High Court Judge Khushiram Tharu by Throwing Mud

Khushiram Tharu, a judge at the Birgunj High Court’s temporary bench, was assaulted by being hit with mud.

Supporters of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) led by Dharmendra Bastola entered the Birgunj bench and threw mud at Judge Tharu. Inside the courtroom, they chanted slogans, protesting against judgments they claimed were against the people, and then attacked the judge by throwing mud.

Immediately after the incident, the police arrested three individuals. The arrested have been identified as Gamu Mahto, Padmabahadur Magar, and Abhinash, also known as Kishor Kumhal, according to sources.

This incident followed the High Court Birgunj bench’s acquittal of former Nepali Congress lawmaker Mohammad Aftab Alam, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment by the district court in Rautahat for a notorious bomb blast and murder case in Rajpur

The joint bench of High Court judges Khushiprasad Tharu and Arjun Maharjan overturned the decision of the Rautahat District Court and acquitted Mohammad Aftab Alam.

This incident is clearly an act of contempt of court, undermining both the dignity and independence of the judiciary. While people may disagree with judicial decisions, such disagreements must be addressed through legal channels—not through violence or intimidation. Importantly, the High Court’s ruling in favor of Mohammad Aftab Alam can still be challenged by filing an appeal at the Supreme Court, where a review of the verdict can be sought.

Resorting to public outrage inside a courtroom sets a dangerous precedent. It threatens the rule of law and discourages judges from making impartial decisions. Justice must be pursued through reason and due process not through fear.