Concerned over the death of four people in Bethari, Rupandehi during recent protests, National Human Rights Commission has urged all stakeholders to respect people’s right to life.

In a statement on Thursday, the national rights body said, “The security agencies ignored our suggestions and recommendations about methods to control such incidents.”

Four-year-old Chandan Kumar Patel and 13-year-old Ranjana Chhetri were among the four shot dead by police in a clash between protesters and the security agency on Tuesday.

NHRC spokesperson Mohna Ansari said the right to life of innocent children, who were not involved in the protest, was violated.

The constitutional body had requested the protesters and security agencies time and against to exercise restraint during the protest. The commission had also reminded the protesters not to use children in protests. Earlier, a two year-old-boy was shot dead in Kailali.

The national human rights watchdog also said police action also violated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the United National Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Death of an innocent child in a local fair by a police bullet is disturbing, read the statement, it seems the security agencies are not sensitive toward human rights.

During the clash, 17 Nepal Police personnel and three personnel from the Armed Police Force were injured.

The commission has urged the government to probe into the incident and book the culprits. It has asked the government to cover treatment of injured police personnel and protesters and provide compensation to families of the victims.

The commission has also asked the protesters to keep their protests peaceful.