Kathmandu (dpa) - A Maoist government minister accused of murder had all charges against him dropped on Wednesday, following protests from his party, which alleged the charges were baseless and politically motivated, local media reported.
A district court dropped all charges against Minister for Land Reform Prabhu Sah for lack of evidence, Kantipur Television reported.
The Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Maoists had earlier requested the government to revoke murder charges against Sah, who is a party central committee member.
On Tuesday, Maoist party cadres demonstrated in various parts of the country in support of demands that Sah be acquitted.
Police had accused Sah of involvement in the killing of Hindu youth leader Kashi Tiwari. Tiwari was shot dead in June 2010 in Nepal's southern city of Birganj days after he launched a protest against the Maoists.
The court has filed charges against four others, including Sah's personal secretary, Shiyaram Kushawaha.
Another accused in the case, Aman Kushawaha, has confessed that he pulled the trigger on Sah's orders, an allegation denied by Sah.
Earlier this month, the government pardoned a Maoist lawmaker convicted of involvement in a 1998 murder.
Critics have accused the new Maoist-led coalition government of undermining the rule of law by withdrawing cases against those accused of committing serious crimes during the country's 10-year armed conflict, which ended in 2006.
dpa pt rpm
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