In a clear breach of the constitution, the Nepal Army has barred the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) from investigating into the alleged torture of Army personnel who were detained in connection with missing weapons from its Dipayal-based far-western divisional headquarters.

Article 249 of the constitution allows the commission to “enter any government premises or other places, without prior notice, in case the commission has received information that violation of human rights of a person is occurring thereon and immediate action is required, to provide rescue”.

NHRC officials on Friday returned to the NHRC regional office in Dhangadhi from Dipayal after they were not allowed to meet the detainees.

A team led by Human Rights Officer Pawan Bhatta had reached Dipayal on Wednesday after NHRC received complaints from the kin of the detained Army personnel.

One SMG rifle, two loaded magazines and 200 rounds of ammunition were reported to be missing from the NA regional headquarters since August 5. The NA has taken 11 personnel into custody. The NA has admitted to their detention. There are media reports that one of the detained committed suicide in the barracks due to the torture inflicted on him.

The NA headquarters, however, told the Post that the acting chief of the regional headquarters, Sudarshan Bikram Rana, had briefed the NHRC officials on the incident. But Bhatta reported the NHRC central office that they were made to wait for hours just to be told that they could not meet the detainees.

On Friday, the NHRC wrote to the Army headquarters asking it to present the detainees before its office within 24 hours.