Miscellaneous
Lal commission submits report
The High-level Probe Commission led by former Supreme Court justice Girish Chandra Lal to investigate the killings during the Madhes movement has submitted its report.The High-level Probe Commission led by former Supreme Court justice Girish Chandra Lal to investigate the killings during the Madhes movement has submitted its report.
Formed to probe atrocities committed during the Madhes movement of 2015 as demanded by the Madhes-based parties, the commission handed over the report to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in Baluwatar on Friday.
Protests had erupted in the run-up to constitution promulgation as the regional parties opposed the plans of four major forces to push through finalisation of the charter in the Constituent Assembly.
According to the report, 66 people—including 10 police personnel, an 18-month-old, four-year old Samman Patel and 15-year-old Nitu Yadav—were killed during the movement. Of them, 62, including the police officials, were declared martyrs while four had not been conferred the status.
“We have recommended that four of those killed during the movement should also be declared martyrs,” Lal said after submitting the report. “It’s up to the government to implement our recommendations.” The commission visited 18 districts for the probe. In Tikapur of Kailali, 10 policemen including an 18-month-old baby were brutally killed by the agitators in August 2015. The members also held interactions with several local intellectuals before drafting the report.
Sources claimed that the panel has not recommended action against any one since it was only an inquiry commission. However, it has recommended action against some government bodies, to be taken by the attorney general. The report has also recommended that the government strengthen the mechanism to control riots and agitations in a proper way.
Formed on 18 September 2016, the six-month tenure of the commission was extended twice. It was mandated to probe the incidents that took place during the Madhes movement, to find facts about the incidents, to recommend compensation for the victims and action against those held responsible for the killings.
The probe commission was formed on the basis of a three-point agreement reached between the Nepali Congress, the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Sanghiya Gathabandhan of the agitating parties.
The report addresses a total of 3,264 complaints registered at the commission. It included Deputy Attorney General Surya Koirala, Advocate Sujan Lopchan, former Nepal Police AIG Navaraj Dhakal and Home Ministry Joint-secretary Narayan Prasad Sharma Duwadi.