Chandra Prakash Gajurel

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Chandra Prakash Gajurel (born April 29, 1948) is a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). His nom-de-guerre is Comrade Gaurav.

[edit] Arrest and Campaign for Freedom

On August 20, 2003, when attempting to travel to London, using forged travel documents, Gajurel was arrested in Chennai, India. Nepali and foreign supporters, including National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the Workers Party of Belgium, the Communist Party of Norway, the Communist Party (ML) of Greece, the Maoist Communist Centre of India, the Communist Organization of Greece, the Maoist Communist Party (Turkey - N. Kurdistan), the Revolutionary Communist Party (USA), and CCOMPOSA (Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organizations of South Asia), launched a campaign to have him released. Interpol has issued a warrant on Gajurel, as have Nepali authorities. Although wanted for homicide, armed robbery and complicity in terrorism, Indian authorities only charged Gajurel with possession of false papers.[1] In April 2005 a team of European human rights activists was allowed to meet Gajurel in prison.[2] His supporters fear that he will be extradited to Nepal and tortured by Nepali authorities.

On October 11, 2006, Gajurel was brought to Kolkata, to produce him before a local court in connection with a sedition case.[3]

On September 19, 2007, Gajurel acted as a spokesman for his party, regarding its resignation from the Nepali government,[4] so it may be safe to presume he has been released from prison.