Two more months for Rayamajhi commission

The government has extended the term of the high-level judicial commission formed to investigate the atrocities committed by the erstwhile royal regime during the people’s movement-II by two months.

Meeting of the Council of Ministers on Tuesday had decided to extend the term of the commission by two months as the commission is still continuing its investigation and interrogation of persons accused of involving in suppressing the people’s movement. The commission would work under the same mandate and working procedures as before.

The government had formed the commission under former Supreme Court judge Krishna Jung Rayamajhi on May 06, giving two months timeframe to present its investigation report along with recommendations. Lately, commission members had been saying that they needed more time to complete the investigation.

Journalist Harihar Birahi, lawyers Ram Prasad Shrestha and Ram Kumar Shrestha and general secretary of Nepal Medical Association Dr. Kiran Shrestha are members of the high-level commission.

As part of its investigation, the commission has already conducted field study in various districts in all five regions where atrocities took place during the 19-day movement in April this year.

At least 21 people had died and over 4000 others injured in security actions during the movement that brought down King Gyanendra’s direct rule.

The commission has already interrogated the key functionaries of the royal government including its vice-chairmen-duo Dr Tulsi Giri and Kirti Nidhi Bista, dismissed security officials and advisors to King Gyanendra in connection with their alleged role in atrocities against the pro-democracy agitators.