Officials say a preliminary probe report is expected by next week. "We will send our report to the central office to decide whether a team should be sent to the site for further investigation," said Murari Kharel, NHRC regional director at Nepalgunj. He, however, declined to comment on the initial findings citing confidentiality of the investigation.

On June 10, people from Upper Dolpa had filed a case at the NHRC demanding investigation into the incident. The complaint filed by Dho villagers states that a group of about 50 personnel from Nepal Police and Armed Police Force reached the village and confiscated money collected by villagers as tax from Yarchagumba pickers. When the villagers protested, they allegedly resorted to violence.

"We have taken this case seriously," said Bed Prasad Bhattarai, NHRC acting secretary, adding that the commission would investigate the case thoroughly.

People from Upper Dolpa have been staging a sit-in at Bhadrakali for the past three days, demanding a high-level judicial commission to investigate the matter. On June 24, the government formed a three-member committee headed by the Surkhet Chief District Officer to investigate the incident.

Senior Superintendent of Police Madhu Prasad Pudasaini and National Intelligence Department Joint Investigation Director Yadav Regmi are other members of the committee.

Protesters are demanding representatives of human rights community and locals in the probe team. "How can a government official and police personnel in service investigate other officials," asked Norbu Ghale, the struggle committee coordinator.

Former Peace Minister Satya Pahadi, who went to Bhadrakali on Saturday to express solidarity with the protesters, charged the government with trying to cover up the police atrocities in the village.