Kathmandu, 26 April (HS): A former minister of Nepal has been sentenced to life imprisonment for setting afire several people in a brick kiln. The court verdict came after 16 years of the incident. Aftab Alam, a former Labour Minister was found guilty of pushing several people in a brick kiln. During the 2008 elections, he used some workers from Bihar in India to make bombs. The bombs exploded in a residential premises and Aftam Alam, in an effort to destroy the evidence.

Following complaints by family members of the victims, inquiry started and Aftab was arrested 12 years after the incident. The court proceedings continued for about four years, during which Aftab was in jail. Six of Aftab’s family members are still reported absconding.

Meanwhile, Aftab was elected twice and also became minister once.

Hindusthan Samachar/ Ajay Mardikar. Pankaj Das/ Sanjiv/Manoj