Part I: Rautahat Brick Kiln Massacre

On April 9th 2008, Gauri Shankar Ram Chamar from Bihar, India had gone to meet Mohammad Aftab Alam to receive his wage. Chamar arrived at the residence and waited alongside 16 other people in a cowshed. Shortly after, a stove bomb detonated and injured multiple people.

Chamar suffered injuries in his ear, neck, and chest. He ran 700 meters in panic, before losing consciousness. He remained in a coma for 20 days. 

In the unfortunate event, 14 people died and 8 were injured. According to an eyewitness, Aftab Alam is accused of having packed the injured persons in sacks, dumping their bodies in a brick kiln fire, and killing them.

Mohammad Aftab Alam was not seen as a notorious gangster but rather was publicly perceived as a politician who later became Minister for Labor and Transport Management. 

So, why would a prominent politician from a renowned party commit such a heinous crime or be accused of such an act? What was his motivation to lead such action? Specifically, before the First Constituent Assembly election that was held on May 12, 2008.

In 2008, Nepal was going through a turbulent time, the civil war had recently ended, and an armed Maoist rebel was competing in a democratic election. During that period- political violence, intimidation, and voting irregularities were widespread and Mohammad Aftab Alam was no exception. Even though Mohammad Aftab Alam belonged to a moderate democratic party, he had become extreme. 

It was discovered that bombs were being made to wreak terror during the Constituent Assembly in order to secure Alam’s poll win. He won in the First Constituent Assembly election in May 12th, 2008, from Rautahat Constituency 2 Nepali Congress.

On April 30th, 2008, Rukshana Khatun Filed a case against Alam, and on June 23rd Shree Narayan Singh also filed a case against Alam. DAO Rautahat presents a report to the District Attorney’s Office. On July 14, 2008, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) decided not to file any case against Alam. However, the complaints helped in stopping him from becoming a Minister. 

On May 29th, 2012, the Supreme Court revoked the decision of OAG and ordered a proper investigation. Alam lost the second Constituent Assembly in 2013. But then, in a turn of events, 

Alam proceeded to win the first federal election in 2017 from Rautahat Constituency-2. 

Alam’s case will be further discussed in Part II.