A majority of the people killed during the protest in the Tarai have been found to be bystanders and those hiding from the aggression of the security forces. 

A research conducted by the Asian Human Rights Commission and the Terai Human Rights Defenders (THRD) Alliance found that more than half of the 37 people killed by the state were not involved in the protests at the time of the tragedy. 

Of them, 41 percent of the victims were targeted, while 56 percent of the fatalities were the result of indiscriminate shooting into crowd in market places and houses and three percent fatalities were caused by beating. There were six children and five women among those killed.

The research, which focuses on the use of force by the state against the protesters, was conducted between September 20, 2015 and February 27, 2016, a period during which an anti-constitution protest was in full swing in the southern plains. Over 50 people were killed during the period. 

The THRD Alliance and the AHRC conducted the research in Kailali, Parsa, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Rajbiraj, Saptari, and Rangeli and Dainiya in Morang districts. 

They did not investigate the two incidents in Tikapur and Bhagawanpur (Mahottari) in which protesters were responsible for the killing of eight police and one APF officer. However, the rights organisations have condemned these killings in the strongest terms.

The 70-page report has documented 37 fatalities, all due to excessive use of force by security personnel. The research found no compelling evidence to suggest that the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force were facing a situation where their lives or the lives of others were at imminent risk.

“The evidences suggest that the NP and APF personnel were under orders to use lethal force in the face of any resistance, regardless of whether it posed a threat to life,” read the report. 

Despite the Supreme Court order to follow the law, police opened fire indiscriminately. The report found that 89 percent of the instances of firing by police at protesters were above the waist, while only 5 percent were below the waist. 

The report, released on Monday, has corroborated the earlier reports prepared by the National Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Watch, which had reported excessive use of force by security personnel. 

“Based on credible eyewitness and documentary evidence, the report concludes that the security forces engaged in a consistent pattern of excessive use of force, resulting in the deaths of 34 people and three others died in situations where the police could have intervened to stop their killing by counter-protesters,” read the statement.

No security personnel were held responsible for these serious human rights violations.

In the joint report, the two rights organisations have demanded a high-level independent commission to investigate into the killing of protesters, bystanders and security personnel. 

They have also urged the protesters to organise protests and raise their voice through peaceful means.