Singh Commission submits report

Kathmandu Jan 2- The probe committee formed by the government to investigate the recent Nagarkot massacre has submitted its report to Vice-chairman of the Council of Ministers Dr Tulsi Giri on Monday.

Chief of the probe committee Justice Top Bahadur Singh handed over the report to the vice-chairman at the latter’s office in Singha Durbar.

According to state-owned Radio Nepal, the report, prepared on the basis of field study and interactions with eyewitnesses, victims’ families and relatives and the security officials involved in the rescue work as well as the officials at the Nagarkot-based Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) academy and other available information, mentions, among other things, about how soldier Basudev Thapa managed to come outside the barrack with a gun and went on a shooting spree and how he got killed in mysterious circumstance.

Justice Singh said the report was prepared after analysing the incident and the consequences that led to it.

“We have put forward suggestions to the Royal Nepalese Army for the necessary reforms needed to be carried out in the army barracks,” he said. He added that the report has advised the government to better manage the relief provided to the victims’ families.

Receiving the probe report, vice-chairman Giri said the government was committed to implement the report on the tragic incident. Home Minister Kamal Thapa was also present on the occasion.

The government had formed the probe commission on December 15 amidst widespread protests against the horrendous killing of dozen villagers during a local fair at Kali Mandir in Ward No. 6 of Nagarkot VDC. After mowing down 12 villagers and injuring over 20 others, soldier Thapa got himself killed in mysterious circumstances.