The National Human Rights Commission has completed a probe into the violent pro-monarchy riots of March 28 that left two dead and scores injured.

After the pro-monarchy groups and their sympathisers raised questions over the commission’s impartiality, the constitutional body sought to form a high-level panel led by retired judges. The plan, however, didn’t materialise as the former judges it approached turned down the offer to lead a panel to probe a politically-charged incident.

The commission then conducted the investigation with support from experts specialising in forensic and other evidence. After around two months of study, the rights body’s investigation department has submitted its report to the office-bearers for the study and endorsement.

Surya Dhungel, a member of the commission, confirmed they have received the report. “ We will take the necessary decision after the study,” Dhungel said.

An official who has reviewed the report said the document points out lapses from both the protesters and the state during the incident. “While the protesters were proactive, the loss could have been lessened if the state had acted timely,” the official said.

Issuing a statement on the day of the incident, the commission had said the protesters had broken through the police barricade at Tinkune and tried to enter the restricted area around New Baneshwar. “A clash between protesters and security forces ensued, with protesters hurling brickbats at the police and private houses,” the statement read.

The protesters had burnt down vehicles and private and public properties, and looted shops and supermarkets. They had also attacked the commission’s teams deployed to monitor the human rights situation. One member of the commission’s staff was injured, while the protesters had misbehaved with commissioner Lily Thapa.

The commission’s statement was then criticised for being “one-sided”. Officials now say they have carried out a thorough and impartial study that gives an actual account of what happened on that day and what went wrong. As the commission staff are currently busy with preparations for its anniversary event scheduled for Tuesday, the report is likely to be made public early next week, an official said.

As many as 20 people had sustained bullet injuries during the riots; one of them had died in the course of treatment on the same day. Suresh Rajak, a TV journalist, was killed after the protesters set ablaze the house he was filming from in Tinkune.

The Nepal Police said they fired 58 rounds of bullet, 746 tear gas shells, two bullets from pistol and 198 blank rounds in an attempt to control the situation that turned violent.

While the government and the police claim firing was necessary to control the situation, critics argue excessive use of force instigated the protesters and demand the formation of an independent government probe panel. The government, however, did not form any such probe committee.

In its report submitted to the Kathmandu District Government Attorney’s Office, the police has recommended charges against 108 individuals. During the investigation phase, police detained 90 individuals. The police investigated 61 individuals for criminal offences and organised crime, and 29 for sedition. Of them, 34 under criminal offence and three under sedition charges have been released on the condition they appear when summoned for an enquiry.

The Joint People’s Movement Committee, which led the Tinkune protests, has announced another round of protests demanding the restoration of monarchy from Thursday. The committee is headed by Nabaraj Subedi, a Panchayat-era leader. The Subedi-led team, which includes Rastriya Prajatantra Party chairperson Rajendra Lingden and RPP-Nepal chair Kamal Thapa, has met the commission officials, demanding fair monitoring of the protest which it claimed would be peaceful.