Fact Finding Report on maoist attack to UML candidate in Preeti VDC on Ramechhap district
Constituent Assembly Candidate Mr. Dev Shankar Paudel, member of the Interim Parliament Mr. Kamal Prakash Sunuwar and other 19 CPN Cadres reached Chadul, Preeti VDC-7 in Ramechhap district on 11 March 2008 (28 Phagun 2064) evening for election campaign. Villagers in Peerti VDC were informed about it in day time by the organizers. YCL in the district already knew about the program. They banned and also warned the villagers against participating in the program. They also surrounded the venue from different sides. Chief District Officer M. Surya Prasad Shrestha also informed about all the background by the member of Interim Parliament Mr. Kamal Prakash Sunuwar and asked to arrange security force.
Area Police Office deployed nine policemen at the venue. The Program was organized in front of the gate of the Chandaswari Secondary School. District leaders requested to Police to go along with them. But police refused saying that "We don’t have order to go with you". After that, UML cadre went to Jhingawali for door to door program.
After five minutes, while going for campaign they met YCL cadres waiting in the hillside in the leadership of Teke Sarki and started following the UML leaders and started stoning saying "beat them, beat them". Meanwhile, Mr. Paudel requested them to stop stoning. He said "We would talk with your authority". Then YCL stopped stoning and went to other side. After a while, YCL cadres from other place started stoning again. Mr. Paudel again requested them saying "we would talk with your authority" This time they did not stop. The UML cadres started to run away but it was too late. YCL cadres caught them and started to beat them up with sticks and boots. Some leaders along with Dev Shankar Paudel became unconscious. They also looted election campaign materials, bag and some cash from them. Finally, YCL cadres ran away chanting "Long Live Maoist."
Dev Shankar and other UML cadre had minor injuries, regained consciousness when water was put into the mouth and face. Mr. Kul Bahadur Darji informed police and then the injured were taken to the police station. Some who got deviated from the way came to contact at 7 PM. Five of 19 UML cadre escaped from beating. Police arranged general treatment for victims. Police informed the District Headquarters and the next morning helicopter came to pick-up the four of the victims to the hospital in Kathmandu. Rest of those victims came by jeep from Jiri.
Fact Finding Report on clash between Maoists and villagers in Nuwakot VDC of Arghakhanchi district
A person known as Rajendara Banjade died at Norvic Hospital in Kathmandu while being treated. A total of 12 persons were injured when the locals and Maoist activists clashed. The incident occurred in Hatiya of Nuwakot VDC-3 in Arghakachi district on DATE. Aged between 18 and 56, 40 people were displaced form the village after the incident.
Earlier a confrontation erupted between Maoist activists and Chairperson of School Management Committee Pitambar Shrestha and Principal Kamal Shrestha on writing slogan on the wall of the school. The Chairperson and Principle were saying that they were not allowing anyone to write any party slogan on the school wall. Maoists had started both cultural program and wall painting simultaneously. Maoist called at the office following the confrontation with the Management Committee Chairperson and School Principal.
After the phone call at the district party office of CPN-Maoist that activists of CPN-UML had disrupted ongoing program in the village. Thirteen YCL activists with red scarf moved from district party office in six motorbikes at 4.15 pm. When they reached there, the program was going on well but all 13 did not go to school. Half of them went to program spot and half of them went to Pitambar Shrestha's home looking for the Chairperson of School Management Committee of Mahendra Primary School. They found him in his own house and brought him in the program spot. They asked him to say sorry from the stage.
Saying this, the YCL activists caught him by the neck in disrespectful manner. While doing this, they were saying that "you are the person who has said bad words against our party and wanted to disturb our program".
At the same moment, his wife and his daughter came on the spot requesting YCL to set him free. But YCL cadres pushed them. Both fell down on the ground. Then, the villagers attacked and started kicking the YCL and Maoist activists and beating them up with stick and stone. Later, ambulance came to take the injured to the hospital but the villagers stopped it for up to 90 minutes.
After the incident, CPN-Maoist blamed CPN-UML for disrupting the program. But CPN-UML denied. CPN-Maoist filed a case against eight persons including CPN-UML district leaders, Chairperson of Mahendra Primary School Management Committee and villagers. Police are investigating the case against all those incriminated.
Fact Finding Report on the robbery and abduction of women by JTMM(Jwala Singh) in Rangapur VDC of Rautahat district
A house of Jhampal Thing Lama Alias Lasang in Rangapur VDC-6 of Rautahat district was surrounded at 12 am by the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (Jwala Singh) activists on 18 February 2008. Relatives, who were participating in the marriage ceremony, were beaten up with the bamboo sticks, gun-butts and kicked. The JTMM-J activists also looted 130 grams of gold and undisclosed amount of cash.
After looting the valuables they went upstairs, where bride was sitting with her friends. Among them, one of the girls from Nijgad VDC–6 of Bara district was taken to the cornfield in semi-naked state while other four were taken away with them. After a while, the girl who was taken to cornfield was released but other four girls were taken away.
They were taken as far as about six kilometers and were sexually abused in the captivity. On the way, there was debate among the JTMM-J activists. Three girls were released as the majority of abductors were against the abduction. Finally, villagers found them near the village and arrived back at around 3.30 am. They complained verbally at the local Rangapur Police Station.
The next day, locals went to picket the Rangapur Police Station to exert pressure on the police to search for the missing abductee. The police took the released girls to Shivanagar where they were treated except the girl released from cornfield. The family filed a complaint of abduction and robbery at Area Police Office Garuda on the same day.
Local Administration had deployed police and armed police force. After knowing of deployment, the JTMM-J activists released the remaining abducted woman and also gave her Rs 65. She was being hidden in the house of Uma Shankar Jaiswal and Gopi Jaiswal Gamhariya Brita VDC-3. Police found her in Harshaha of Sakhuawa Dhamuara VDC and brought her to Garuda Area Police Office. From there she was brought to Shivanagar for treatment. But there were no equipments to check whether rape had occurred. So police took her to Primary Health Center. Doctor in Chandranighapur has sent the entire documents with required materials to Police Headquarters in Kathmandu. She admitted to Fact-Finding Mission that three to four persons had raped everyday since her abduction to till the day of release.
Victims have not yet filed a case for rape; however, they have filed a case for looting and abduction.
Fact Finding Report on the torch in Paswan area of
Lakkad VDC-7 in Dhanusa
Bidhyasagar Tamang, 55, lives in Chandraayodhaypur VDC -5 of Siraha district. He is a Janamorcha Nepal activist of area no. 4 in the same district. He was abducted on 064 Mangsir 28 by the activists of Jantantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (Jwala Singh group). He found himself handcuffed and his legs tightened by rope, while he was sleeping in his home. He was taken to Nemlal Paswan's house in Paswan area of
Lakkad VDC-7 in Dhanusa district on Mangsir 29.
He was kept in a farm land and sugarcane field on the same day. He was beaten when he asked to make contact with his home. Later when the abductor asked him his house's phone number, he replied honestly “I don’t know the phone number of my house as I don't need it but I have the phone number of my niece who is studying in Kathmandu”. The abductors then made a call to Tamang’s niece in Kathmandu and asked her the home number of Tamang. On getting the number, they called to Tamang’s house and asked 1.5 million for Tamang's release. Finally they agreed on twenty-five hundred thousand (Two Lakhs fifty thousand). After negotiating the amount for the release of Tamang, Tamang’s family was on their way to the scheduled venue to pay the amount and bring back the victim. However, one of the abductors, who is also the neighbor of Tamang, regretted on their deed and told
everything to the victim family. He also informed that Tamang was kept in the house of Umesh Yadav at Jankpuri. Rajan Paswan was the main leader of this entire incident. And, all the truth would come out if Umesh was interrogated.
On knowing about this, villagers along with the family members of Tamang went to the house of Rajan and caught him up. Tamang’s family brought Rajan to their own house. On the following day, Jwala Singh activists called Tamang's family and requested them to exchange Tamang with Rajan. Finally, this negotiation materialized in Siraha district near a river.
Soon after receiving Bidhyasagar Tamang, the mass went to Rajan’s house and torched his and other neighbor’s house. About ten houses were burnt and members of those houses became homeless. The mass also beat-up women, vandalized some houses, freed pets and even looted some cash in Paswan area.
Fact Finding Report on killings in Rajgunj Sinware VDC-1 Sunsari
Late Kiran Aryal, 56, and Ashes Aryal, 53, are residents of Biratnagar. On 2064 Push 6, Friday Aryal brothers went to collect rice in their own field at 8.45 am. They spent whole day in the field and were returning back to Biratnagar at 3 pm. As they were going to Biratnagar, four activists of Jantantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (Jwala Singh) came and threw bomb in front of Aryal brothers at Rajgunj Sinware VDC-1 in Sunsari district and ordered them to stop. When Aryal brothers stopped their motorbike, Jwala Singh activists started to beat them with sugarcane stick. The group took them in a brick factory where they tried to abduct Ashes Aryal. This led to confrontation between the Aryal brothers and the JTMM activists. Then as the Aryal brothers tried to run away, JTMM activists threw a Sutali bomb on Ashes's body. Ashes immediately threw the bomb back but it went off near a JTMM activist causing injury to both Ashes and the JTMM activist. At this very moment, the Morcha activist took out the gun and shot at Kiran Aryal. He immediately fell down on the ground and his brother Ashes ran away. Morcha activists also ran away with Aryal brother’s motorbike. As he was running, Ashes met former village co-chairman Bir Narayan Chaudhary and requested him to call ambulance. When Chaudhary went to the incident place he found that Kiran had already died. He called the police and took Ashes to the Hospital. The police took Kiran's body to Koshi Regional Hospital for postmortem. On Push 7, Aryal's family completed Kiran's last rites. Ashes was taken to the BP Koirala emorial hospital on the following day. He was discharged on Push 12.
The motorbike, which was taken away by JTMM activist, was found on Push 8 some five kilometers far from the incident place. Police has rounded-up two suspected JTMM activists named Shivanarayan Meheta and Hari Meheta for interrogation. Police is carrying on its investigation in the incident.
Fact Finding Report on killings in Kalyanpur VDC-8 Saptari
Late Pashupati Shrestha, 56, and Gajendra Shrestha, 37, lived in Kalyanpur VDC-8 in Saptari disrtict. On 3 Push 2064, 15 to 20 activists of Terai Janatantrik Mukti Morcha came in their house and abducted both Pashupati and Gagendra shrestha along with Vola Chalese and 19-year-old Bhes Bahadur Shrestha from their respective houses. All of them were taken to a farm land, some 700 meters far from the house of Pashupati Shrestha.
There the JTMM activists held some discussion and decided to kill two persons.They then ordered Vola Chalise and Bhes Bahadur Shrestha to run away. Both of them ran towards their own village and called their neighbors. At this very moment they heard gun shots and went to see the incident site. They found the bodies of Pashupati and Gajendra lying on the ground with the victims' eye blindfolded. Separate groups of police (one is armed police and Jana path) came to the incident place immediately after the incident. One of the groups took the body of both the victims for postmortem in Koshi Regional Hospital, Rajbiraj. Police has promised to arrest the perpetrator as soon as possible. But, this incident shows that Special Task Force, which has been functioning in the district has not been able to work as per their goal.
Fact Finding Report on Racial Discrimination and beating on Dalits in Baitadi
Baitadi District is famous for hilly and remote district. It is located in the far-west development area. There are many temples of Gods and Goddess and has majority of Hindu Religion. Many devotees come from Nepal and India to sacrifice goat and buffalo in a belief to fulfill their wishes. Since long history, thousand of devotees especially come in Dashin festival to sacrifice animals.
The custom in this district was to eat buffalo by the Dalits community which was left in the temples by the other so called higher communities and scarified goat would taken by them who brought it. In the changing context, voice is rising against the custom of scarifying animals in the temples the reason is sacrificing animals is outcome of violence. However, Dalits community has to eat dead meat forcefully killed by the other community. It shows the instance of caste based discrimination and Dalits community has been suffering from long time. In the recent time, Dalits Community has decided not going to eat meat which is killed by other community and boycott to eating buffalo meat. This idea behind not to eating buffalo meat is the outcome of awareness within the community. Maoist affiliated Dalit Mukti Morcha (United) has also been raising an issue and organizing a movement against cast based discrimination since last three years. Likewise Dalits community from two VDC Melauli and Malladehi has already stopped to eating such kinds of meat.
Kartik 064, Dalits community from Himandu, Udayadev and Patan boycotted to eating buffalo meat, in the sense that they are feeling caste based discrimination to eating meat sacrificed by the other communities. By this reason some so- called higher community people came aggressively to bitten-up to Dalits community and vandalized Dalit's open shops.
Police whom was standing as a guard on the on fair couldn't play active role. Although, Dalits community realized caste base discrimination, still they did not registered FIR as per it. However, they have registered FIR for thrashes. So police did not taken action as per caste based discrimination. Police has not much serious about the incident.
It seems less possibility of prosecution to the perpetrators. There might be increased the possibility of communal riot in this area. Temple's area has been increasing as a dead dumb place and decade buffalo has been throwing around the village. Which leads effect on environment? Local dogs and wild dogs is taking bone from deceased body in day time and night time as well.
Fact Finding Report on abduction of journalist Birendra Sah by Maoist'
A preliminary report on Sah's abduction prepared by the fact finding mission organised by INSEC was released on 10 October 2007.
The locals reported to the fact finding team, which had reached Bara on 8 October that Lal Bahadur Chaudhary, in-charge of Bara district area number 4 unit of the CPN (Maoist), and cadres Kundan Faujdar and Ram Ekwal Sahani were involved in the incident.
Based on the facts collected during the mission, the report concluded that Maoists should not escape from the responsibility of Sah's abduction in any condition. The fact finding team asked the government to fully mobilize its resources to find the whereabouts of Sah.
Demanding the Maoist leadership to strictly order its district leaders for the safe and immediate release of Sah, INSEC urged the CPN-Maoists to make public all the facts related to his abduction by sending a central level team to Bara.
Eighteen people have been killed till 21 September in the violence that flared up following the killing of Mohit Khan, 60, a resident of Kudarwetawa Birpur VDC-4 and leader of Loktantrik Madheshi Morcha on 16 September. But, the details of the deceased are not available yet. About 16 are undergoing treatment at Lumbini Zonal Hospital and Bahadurgunj-based Shivaraj Hospital. About 50 persons are out of contact. Their fate is yet to be known. Billions worth property has been destroyed.
Likewise, about 500 houses have been either vandalised or torched or looted. About 5,000 people have been displaced from those places. Violence and counter-violence, resulted from the communal tension is continuing on the sixth day. Several places of the district are under environment of increasing terror and fear. The fact finding team found that some of the persons were severely tortured before being killed.
Even on the sixth day, the state authority has not been able to venture beyond Highway which has hampered the distribution of relief materials to the victims and collection of information.
Depending on places, one community is attacking the property of other community. The team found that the reluctance of the government, negligence of the local administration and inaction of the security authority had exacerbated the communal harmony. Despite the curfew order, the attack on one community by another is going on even on the sixth day.
People of all communities are feeling insecure in Kapilbastu. Their anger is growing by the day. No government authority has reached to people to hear their troubles till this date.
This fact finding team urges strongly to government to protect the people's right to live freely and in peace and to take required steps for peace and security.
The team demands to find out the killers of Mohit Khan and take legal action against them and also against those responsible for violence following the killing, and provide proper compensation and relief to victim families.
The fact finding team urges all people of the country to stop the acts in Kaplibastu which might lead to distortion of communal fabric in the country and to maintain peace and communal harmony.
Fact Finding Report on 'Killing of Human Rights defender: Purna Bhadur Sunar'
Dalit NGO federation Kapilvastu district president Purna Bahadur Sunar was found dead at 24 th Shawan 2064, 7:30 P.M. The incident occurred in Pakrata , which is 9 K.M. far from Taulihawa-Buddi highway. He was shot dead after control while going to house through Motor-Bike.
He was killed by two round bullets of the home made gun .Among two bullets one was out of the body and one was inside the body. The incident was seen by the local women at 8:15 P.M. when motor-bike was sliding with one person at the edge of the rode. After more villagers came by the information of the women and went to inform the Purna Bhadur Sunar’s house and also informed the police at 11 P.M. and came at 11:15 P.M.
The response took with statement by the Terai Janatanraik Mukti Morcha (TJMM) (Goite) group but victim’s family, police, various organizations, political parties did not believe yet.
The incident was denounced by the Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Coordination Committee (HRTMCC), which violates the fundamental rights, human rights and humanitarian law prescribed by the International Convention.
Human Rights defender and social worker Late Purna Bhadur Sunar has been running since long time and incident becomes challenge for all of the society, human rights defenders and civilians.
Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and CPN (Maoists) affiliated Madhesi Rastriya Mukti Morcha (MRMM) had organized a mass meeting at Rice Mills Ground, Gaur Municipality-5 in Rautahat district on 21 March 2007. The clash that ensued at the venue, where both sides had organized their meetings, and the brutal beatings of the Maoists cadres by the activists of the MJF led to the death of 27 persons including five women. The whereabouts of five Maoist cadres are unknown till date.
MJF had announced its meeting scheduled on 21 March at the Rice Mills ground a week earlier while MRMM had publicized its meeting at the same place and date only a day earlier.
Shots were also fired during the clash in the meeting venue. Of the 27 persons who lost their lives in the incident, six were killed in the clash site, 11 were killed in Hajmaniya VDC outside Gaur Municipality, two were killed on the way to Mudwalawa VDC, two were killed in Belbichuwa VDC, four died while undergoing treatment at Gaur Hospital and two died while being taken to Bharatpur. All of them had deep injuries in their heads. They were beaten with split bamboo sticks, were stoned and even torched. All of the deceased were Maoists cadres. Among them, injuries were inflicted at sensitive organs of women.
Fifty-two persons were injured in the incident. Out of which three were civilians, four were MJF supporters and the rest were Maoist cadres. The injured were admitted to Chitwan Medical College though they were referred to Narayani Sub-Regional Hospital in Birgunj after undergoing primary treatment at Gaur Hospital.
It has been found that Sapana Gurung, 22, resident of Belbari-3 of Morang,
who was killed by army personnel on April 25, 2006, was raped as an
experiment carried out by RONAST. BP Health Science Foundation at Dharan
had handed over her Blood sample to RONAST for DNA experiment recently
after her death. RONAST has, however not yet disclosed the experiment
report. It was found, in an effort of Parliamentary Committee, that the blood
sample from 69 army personnel including then Captain of Belbari Base Camp
Prallad Thapa and two suspected civilians of the Belbari itself has been sent to
Kolkata, India for the experiment. It is carried out to identify the rapist when
her death was proved to have due to the rape. It is hoped that the rapist, who
raped Sapana Gurung, will be identified through this experiment.
An Army man under the leadership of Captain Prallad Thapa had shot
indiscriminately to death of six civilians on April 27 at around 3 pm to the local
residents of Belbari who gathered to protest Sapana’s murder. It was found
that the each family of the six deceased member received RS 10,000 from
District Administration Office, Morang for funeral rites recently after their death
and Rs 50,000 from Army Regional Headquarter, Itahari.
Sapana Gurung, 22, of Belbari VDC-3, Morang District, was forcefully captured by three army men under the leadership of Captain Prahlad Thapa of Unified Security Base Camp, Belbari, on April 26 at 9:30 pm.
Considering observation of the spot, statement of locals, victim's family and civil society representatives it is revealed that Sapana was forcefully captured and taken about 200 meters west towards Lohandra River from her rented house and raped by army personnel. According to the victim's family, Sapana was laid on the ground, raped and then shot dead. On the spot, Sapana's one slipper, broken bangles and empty water pot were found. Grasses and the soil on the ground have been mutilated and the bullet fired at her chest had pierced to the back.
Civil society representatives stated that she should have been killed with the fear of being prosecuted or to hide the fact and to destroy the proofs after rape. Although, Itahari Division of RNA has denied the rape of Sapana and the investigation is yet to complete. Victim was taken to B.P. Koirala Institute of Medical Sciences, Dharan, at 11 pm. But her family members were not allowed to meet her. The corpse was handed over to the victim's family after post-mortem.
Fact Finding Report on 'Aerial Attack in Sindhupalchowk District'
A civilian Bam Bahadur Khatri, 63, resident of Thokarpa VDC-4, Sindhupalchowk district, and 2 Maoist cadres were killed on March 27, 2006 when security forces initiated an indiscriminate aerial attack by helicopters on the different parts of Thokarpa VDC interviewing Maoists' programme. Attach by the security forces began at about 12:45 Pm, just before the programme, targeting the programme at hostel of Bhagbhairab Higher Secondary School when there were already gathered around 4-5 hundreds of Maoists and many civilians however it was reported that the large number of Maoists were in the surrounding areas and villagers were in the process of gathering. The Maoists had invited people from Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha and Kavre district and the central level leaders of the Maoists were scheduled to attend the program.
When the security forces bombed indiscriminately the Maoists tried free. There were many holes of the bullet on the roof and walls of the school, Ayurvedic Health Post, and around a dozen houses of civilian. The attack damaged walls, computers, furniture and books of the library and windows of the school. In the attack, 3 cattle also died and a buffalo and an ox were severely injured.
After the field observation and interviews with witnesses and victims of incident as well as the locals Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Coordination Committee (HRTMCC) has found that 17 security persons, 3n Maoists and one civilian, altogether 21 persons were killed during an encounter on February 9, 2006 from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. However, the concerned authority has confirmed that 14 security persons were killed and 23 security persons and 6 civilians, altogether 29 persons were injured during the encounter. Maoists exploded 4 vehicles that were carrying security force.
HRTMCC has found that security persons had used civilian houses for defense while firing during the encounter. Maoists had not cleared scattered explosives at the place of incident as well as at the surrounding area such as Sunawal and Debdaha. HRTMCC states that such irresponsible behavior of the Maoists is against Humanitarian Laws.
Maoists have demonstrated commitment towards Humanitarian Laws by releasing 12 security persons abducted by them during the encounter. However, it seems that some of the security persons were killed by Maoists after taking as captive. In this regard, HRTMCC calls upon Maoists to abide by the Geneva Convention at any circumstances.
We demand with the state to provide proper medical treatment for civilians injured and compensation to the victim families. We also demand to pay compensations for the damaged vehicles and other properties belonging to civilians.
Devendra Rai, 21, of Lungin, Rahadung Tole of Devantar VDC-7 was taken into custody on January 5 from the western check post of the unified security base camp in Hatuwagadi, Ghodetar of Ranibas VDC-8. The security forces revealed later on that Rai who was arrested on the suspicion of being a Maoist, had died in the custody. Family members of the deceased and locals were not informed about the incident.
Rai’s body was taken to Bhojpur District Hospital (BDH) for postmortem.Dr Bhawani Sharma conducted postmortem and the body was buried by security persons. They did not hand over the dead body to the family members.
After postmortem, Bhojpur VDC Secretary was forced to accept the corpse. A local was paid an amount of Rs 3,000 by the District Police Office for the burial.
Despite the security forces’ claim of Rai’s death in the custody, while analyzing the facts and discussions with and among locals, victim’s family members, District Administration Office, Bhojpur, the doctor who conducted postmortem and representatives of local organizations, the deceased was found to have died of severe torture inflicted upon him on that same day of his arrest and was airlifted to Bhojpur district headquarters.
After the field observation and interviews with witnesses and victims of incident as well as the locals Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Coordination Committee (HRTMCC) has found that 17 security persons, 3n Maoists and one civilian, altogether 21 persons were killed during an encounter on February 9, 2006 from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. However, the concerned authority has confirmed that 14 security persons were killed and 23 security persons and 6 civilians, altogether 29 persons were injured during the encounter. Maoists exploded 4 vehicles that were carrying security force.
HRTMCC has found that security persons had used civilian houses for defense while firing during the encounter. Maoists had not cleared scattered explosives at the place of incident as well as at the surrounding area such as Sunawal and Debdaha. HRTMCC states that such irresponsible behavior of the Maoists is against Humanitarian Laws.
Maoists have demonstrated commitment towards Humanitarian Laws by releasing 12 security persons abducted by them during the encounter. However, it seems that some of the security persons were killed by Maoists after taking as captive. In this regard, HRTMCC calls upon Maoists to abide by the Geneva Convention at any circumstances.
We demand with the state to provide proper medical treatment for civilians injured and compensation to the victim families. We also demand to pay compensations for the damaged vehicles and other properties belonging to civilians.
Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Coordination Committee-HRTMCC has come to a conclusion that CPN (UML) cadre Umesh Chandra Thapa was killed by the security force using excessive force at Ghorahi, Dang on February 8, 2006. Nepali Congress cadre Krishna Giri sustained bullet injury at the same incident. The security force fired towards the peaceful demonstration organized by the agitating seven political parties in a bid to boycott the municipal polls. The incident came as the result of Home Minister Kamal Thapa’s public order a day before the election to open fire on the demonstrators on the day of election. Security force shot at the peaceful demonstrators without prior notice. The fact finding mission of HRTMCC found that the security forces didn't give any kind of prior warning, such as blank firing, baton charging or arresting, before shooting. The incident is a gross violation of the constitution of The Kingdom of Nepal 1990, Local Administration Act 028 and the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights.
HRTMC strongly demands to form an independent probe committee on the incident with the involvement of UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights and to take action against the guilty. We demand that the state should provide the proper treatment for the injured and compensation for the victim's family.
Fact Finding Report on Palpa Incident
Maoists have attacked Tansen Durbar where almost all government offices were stationed and also the District Jail in Tansen city, the district headquarters of Palpa, at 10:45pm, on 31 January. A total of 24 citizens have died in the incident. Reportedly, 14 security persons including four army men, nine Maoists and one cook of the CDO are among those dead in the attack. The security source publicized about the death of 11 security persons only.
Maoists also provided treatment to the injured abductees in their control and released them safely.
Maoists have accepted the death of nine of their cadres during the clash. A total of 97 persons were injured in the incident including 75 Maoists, 21 security persons and a civilian girl child hit injured by splinters of the bomb. The bombs thrown from the night-vision helicopter also destroyed the Bhusaldanda Primary School and private houses.
Nine government vehicles were also destroyed in the attack at government offices by Maoists. The government orphanage inside Tansen Durbar premises was also destroyed in the attack.
Maoists have released 21 persons on 3rd February and five persons including the CDO on 6th February. According to Maoists sources still there are six security persons in their control.
Both the security persons and Maoists have utilized civilian houses during the clash against Geneva Convention.
Encounters at Manakamana VDC 1 and 2 and Kichanas VDC-6, of Syangja District and Ambote, Arunodaya VDC-2 of Tanahun District, between Maoists and security forces on January 12 and 13 claimed lives of 22 citizens including 2 civilians, 2 security persons and 18 Maoists.
Rel Bahadur Gurung, a civilian, was shot dead by the security forces in the crossfire at Manakamana VDC-1 on 13 January. Pritam Bahadur Gurung, another civilian of the same place also died on 29 January due to torture by the army.
When the clash was over, the army held 28 locals including women and children in a bunker made at Chihandanda near Manakamana Temple, inflicting physical and mental torture the whole night of 13 January. Nine locals of Manakamana VDC 1 and 2 were assaulted and tortured by the army on suspicion of supporting or being the Maoists. They were released on 14 January, afternoon. A total of 25 private houses were damaged in the crossfire.
Both the conflicting parties were found responsible for utilizing the civilian settlement as battle field neglecting the humanitarian laws. The army while searching the area has assaulted two persons of Chinnebas, two of Chitre Bhanjyang and two of Ambote, Arunodaya VDC-2, on 14 and 16th January. Some of them are released on date.
The security persons arrested Sirjana Shahi, a Maoist cadre from Magyam Chisapani VDC-3 on 15 January. Her whereabouts is still unknown.
The security forces have seized food stuffs and other properties from the houses of Maoists’ family members and civilians as well. The security forces have returned some of the seized properties and some are yet to be returned.
It has been confirmed that 18 Maoists have died and six injured in the crossfire were carried away by the Maoists.
RNA has stated that one army man had died and six injured. However, the locals claim the death of two army men in the incident. Army has been mobilized extensively in that area after the encounter.
Taking account of the circumstantial evidences obtained from the interviews with local people as well as alleged officials and the field observation the fact finding team of HRTMCC has come to a conclusion that Devi Bahadur Pun, (38), Ram Prasad Ghimire, (56), Arjun B.K., (19), Milan Rakhal,(17), and an unidentified person were killed in firing by the security force after encircling them on 24 September 2005 at Bahadurpur VDC-7, Palpa. During the firing a seven year old girl Punam Dhenga and three year old boy Bipin Dhenga were also injured.
During the operation teachers from nearby schools Manohar Gnyawali, Rambabu Kushawaha and Ram Prasad Bhusal were tortured and kicked off by the security persons. Local residents Min Bahadur Raskoti Magar and Dil Bahadur Jhendi were also inflicted severe torture by the security force. The security personnel forced them to dig the ditch and threatened to shoot them dead if they don’t burry the corpse. A radio transistor, an umbrella and two packets of shaving blades were taken away by the security personnel from the room of the school teachers.
The force took Nagendra Bhattarai, (76), Sudarshan Paudel, (52), and his wife Sarada, Yadav Raut, (28), and Anup Bista, (12), tying their hands on the back.
The firing was so arbitrary that a buffalo also was hit with a bullet in the icident. At the moment of attack by the security forces the victims were unarmed and they could have been in control without casualty.
Rape Casesby a Group of Maoists Encirculing the Entire Settlementin a Dalit Squatters'
Settlement in Purbatol of Jagatpur VDC-4 of Saptari District of Sagarmatha Zone
Incident of Killing of Two Unarmed Army Persons by a Group of Maoists and Terrorizing of Locals by the Security Forces on the Aftermath of the Killing in Dhading District
1) The death of Trilochan Poudel, shot dead by the security forces at Bhaisahi Tole,Laxmaniya VDC-9, Rautahat
2) Blast of Public Vehicle at Sakhuwa in Rautahat District
