KATHMANDU: Human rights activists have demonstrated in front of Shital Niwas protesting the election of Agni Prasad Sapkota as the Speaker of House of Representatives (HoR).

Demonstrators hit the streets outside Shitwal Niwas saying that a murder-accused cannot qualify for the post of the Speaker.

Sapkota has been accused of murdering Arjun Lama of Chhatrabans of Kavre district.

The dead body of Lama, who was abducted by the Maoist cadres on April 30, 2005, had been found at Charkilo of Budakhani of the district.

A meeting of HoR on Sunday (January 26) unanimously elected Sapkota as the Speaker representing ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP).

Meanwhile, police have arrested over 12 demonstrators including former chairmen of Amnesty International Rajan Kuinkel, human rights activists Charan Prarain, Indra Aryal, Janak Raut, Mahamunishwor Acharya, Niranjan Thapaliya, Purna Maya Lama among others.