The United Nations in Nepal has expressed its concern over the killing of four youths in Rukum (West) and has called for an impartial investigation.

Valerie Julliand, the UN resident coordinator in Nepal, said the incident was yet another manifestation of the continued prevalence of caste-based discrimination in Nepal.

“On behalf of the United Nations in Nepal, I express my heartfelt condolences to the families and trust that the Government of Nepal will impartially investigate this incident maintaining a zero tolerance in line with the rights guaranteed in the Constitution of Nepal and in Nepal’s international commitments,” she said on Wednesday.

On Saturday, locals from Chaurjahari Municipality in Rukum (West) chased away a group of 19 people including Navaraj BK of Jajarkot, who was to tie the knot with a girl from the Soti village, after they found out that the boy was from the Dalit community.

A day later, BK and his friend Tikaram Sunar, both of them Dalits, were found dead on the banks of the Bheri river. Body of Ganesh Budha was recovered on Monday while Govinda Shahi, 17 and Sanju BK, 17, are still missing in the Bheri river.

The government on Tuesday formed a five-member probe team led by a joint- secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs with two weeks time to investigate the matter.

The police have arrested 12 people from the girls side including a 17-year-old girl, her parents and ward chairperson Dambar Bahadur Malla in connection to the killing.