KATHMANDU: The Constitutional Lawyers’ Forum has strongly condemned the attack on judges of the High Court Janakpur’s Birgunj Bench by cadres of the CPN (Majority).

Cadres affiliated with the CPN (Majority) forcefully entered the courtroom today and smeared black soot on Judge Khusi Ram Tharu, who—along with Judge Arjun Maharjan—had delivered the ruling that cleared Mohammed Aftab Alam of all charges in Rautahat bomb blast case.

The Forum called the attack an inexcusable act of violence that gravely undermines judicial independence, rule of law, and public trust in the legal system. “This act, carried out under a political banner, is not only reprehensible but also a punishable offense under existing laws,” the statement reads.

Alam, a former minister and Nepali Congress politician, had been accused of orchestrating a bomb-making operation in Rautahat on the eve of the first Constituent Assembly elections in 2008, allegedly to terrorize voters and secure an electoral victory.

When the device exploded prematurely, killing and injuring several people, he was accused of disposing of the injured by burning them alive in a brick kiln furnace to destroy evidence.

After years of stalled investigations and delayed prosecutions, the recent High Court verdict acquitting Alam sparked outrage among victims’ families and political groups.

Cadres of the CPN (Majority), a breakaway faction of the Maoist movement, reacted by storming the Birgunj Bench and physically attacking Judge Tharu.

The Constitutional Lawyers’ Forum, led by Advocate Om Prakash Aryal, said such politically motivated attacks are a serious threat to the foundation of constitutional democracy.

“If political parties and state institutions fail to take action against those responsible, the country risks sinking deeper into the criminalization of politics,” Aryal warned.

The Forum urged immediate legal action against the perpetrators and called for guarantees of security for all members of the judiciary.

It also appealed to civil society, political actors, and the general public to join in defending constitutional values, human rights, and the independence of the judiciary.

“This incident must serve as a wake-up call,” the Forum said. “Undermining the judiciary through violence and intimidation sets a dangerous precedent that must be halted with collective resolve.”