Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Rukum District Court has handed down life imprisonment to 24 individuals involved in the murder of six youths in Soti of Rukum West district three years ago.
According to Govinda Prasad Koirala, the information officer of the district court, the convictions were made on charges of murder, attempted homicide, and caste-based discrimination offenses.
Among the accused, 23 were in judicial custody, with one released on bail. Out of the 11 individuals released on bail, eight have been acquitted while two have received a two-year prison sentence along with a Rs 50,000 fine on the caste-based discrimination offense.
In addition to life imprisonment, the 24 convicted individuals have also been fined Rs 50,000 and sentenced to another two years in prison for the caste-based discrimination offense.
On May 23, 2020, residents of Soti in Chaurjahari Municipality in Rukum West attacked Nabaraj BK and his 18 friends. They were on their way to the village to assist Nabaraj in eloping with his girlfriend who belonged to the so-called ‘upper caste.’
The bodies of Nabaraj and his friend Tikaram Sunar, both from the Dalit community, were found on the banks of the Bheri River the following day. The bodies of Ganesh Budha, Lokendra Sunar, and Sandip BK were found on May 25, while Govinda Shahi’s body was discovered on May 26.
