Rayamajhi Commission grills Satchit Shumshere, three others

The high-level Investigation Commission formed to probe into the atrocities committed by the erstwhile royal government to suppress the recently concluded pro-democracy movement, on Friday questioned a royal advisor, former minister and two senior police officials.

Former chief of Army Staff and member of the outlawed Rajparisad, a royal advisory body, Satchit Shumshere Rana and royally appointed minister for Law, Niranjan Thapa were grilled by the commission for their alleged role in suppressing the April uprising that left at least 21 dead, today morning, according to our correspondent Durga Khanal.

"I never remained against democracy rather I supported it and advised the king to reach consensus with the political parties," said Rana while talking to journalists after the interrogation.

He added that the Rajparishad had never conspired against the political parties. "It's our (Rajparishad's) responsibility to advise the king to be active in politics," Rana replied when asked as why the Rajparishad, a non-political body, through various assemblies, urged the king to take absolute powers.

When asked about the responsibility of the death of the 21 people during the Janaandolan II, he questioned: "Who will bear the loss of 13,000 lives in the 10-year-period (Maoist people's war), and recent death of nine people since April 24 (the new government came in power)"

Likewise, former minister for law, Thapa claimed that he had no any role in suppressing the pro-democracy movement. He said: "How can I take the responsibility of the loss of life and properties when the commission has not published any swupporting report on this regard"

Similarly, the commission, formed to recommend necessary punishment to the perpetrators of using force to suppress the pro-democracy movements, also questioned former additional inspector general (AIG) of Nepal Police, Krishna Basnet and former AIG of Armed Police Force, Raviraj Thapa were also questioned by the panel this afternoon.

Earlier on Tuesday, the commission headed by former Supreme Court justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi, grilled vice-chairman of the royal cabinet Dr. Tulsi Giri, his cabinet colleague former minister Badri Prasad Mandal and junior minister Nikshya Shumshere Rana for the same charges.