Himal Press 
BUTWAL: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane has complained that he has not been able to walk in fresh air for the past 100 days.
Lamichhane, who is in pretrial detention at the Bhairahawa Prison, told a team from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday that the food and accommodation in the prison were satisfactory.
NHRC Commissioner Lily Thapa told reporters after meeting Lamichhane that the RSP President also drew the NHRC’s attention to the halt in his prison transfer process.
After visiting the district prison on Monday, the NHRC described its overall condition as substandard, adding that Lamichhane’s cell had no air conditioning and its window had been sealed with plywood.
Thapa also said the prison was housing more inmates than its capacity allowed and lacked even basic facilities. The number of toilets was also insufficient for the inmate population, she added.
Speaking about the block where Lamichhane is held, Thapa said the plywood-covered window left no provision for ventilation. His room contains one Chinese-brand fan and a large fan typically used in party venues.
Prison Administrator Suresh Bhandari said the window was closed for security reasons. Thapa said the prison administration was positive to their request to open the window for ventilation.
After the visit, the NHRC has concluded that there is an urgent need to arrange basic facilities at the prison.
Along with Commissioner Thapa, NHRC Lumbini Office Chief Hari Gyawali, INSEC representative Rima BC, among others, were in the team.
Lamichhane, the former managing director of Gorkha Media Network, has been in custody since April 7. Police arrested him after the Butwal bench of the Tulsipur High Court ordered his detention in connection with a fraud and organized crime case related to the Supreme Cooperative in Butwal.
The Bhairahawa Prison is operating at more than three times its capacity. Designed for 250 inmates, it currently houses 628 prisoners, detainees and remand inmates.
