NHRC asked govt for new investigatin

Kathmandu April 6- Nearly four months after the infamous Nagarkot massacre, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has questioned facts regarding the death of soldier Bashu Dev Thapa who mowed down 11 innocent civilians at Nagarkot on December 14 last year, and asked the government for a new investigation.

Besides, the national human rights watchdog also wants answers regarding the rifle used by Thapa and the one found at the nearby wallow, three days after the massacre.

"As the rifle found in the wallow three days after the incident could not be confirmed as the one used by Thapa to shoot at [the public], death of Thapa can be questioned," said a report prepared by a NHRC probe committee.

The report has come in sharp contrast to the claim of the Royal Nepalese Army and a high-level probe committee formed by the government. They had claimed that Thapa shot himself to death after killing 11 civilians at a local fair the night of December 14 last year.

"The weapon found after three days since the incident might not be the same one used by Bashu Dev," the NHRC report said about the mystery surrounding the rifle used by Thapa and the one found in the nearby wallow.

According to the report, the rifle used by Bashu Dev was not provided to the doctors who performed re-autopsy, only a sample rifle was made available.

NHRC has also pointed out that the incident occurred due to failure of the Royal Nepalese Army Academy at Nagarkot in managing weapons and due to the lack of discipline of the soldiers.
NHRC has held commander of the academy responsible for the mismanagement of weapons and indiscipline of soldiers at the academy, and has recommended the government take action against him.

Mainwhile The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has blamed the rebels of violating human rights norms and humanitarian laws during the January 14 Maoist attack at Thankot Police Office.

A report made public by the NHRC on Wednesday about the incident said, “They (Maoists) have even killed the policemen who had surrendered,” adding, "The rebels have violated article 3(1) of the Geneva Convention by killing an unarmed traffic police officer."

The NHRC has asked the Maoists to take action against those acting against basic humanitarian laws in the attack.

The rights body has urged the government to provide necessary compensation to the families of the deceased and free treatment for those injured during the attack.

The human rights body has also asked the Maoists to take action against those involved in the killing of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP), Janakpur district president, Bijaylal Das, on January 22 in Janakpur.

on ther hand A high-level probe committee led by NHRC investigator Madhav Prasad Gautam has found that NHRC staff Daya Ram Pariyar and civilian Ram Chandra Yadav died due to indiscriminate firing by the police. "The police fired not in its defense but indiscriminately at its will," reads the report made public at a press conference at NHRC office on Wednesday.

According to the report, four policemen, including Inspector Prakash Raj Sharma were responsible and has recommended the government take action against them.

"National and international humanitarian law was violated in the incident," reads the report.