OHCHR concerned over Bardiya killing

KATHMANDU, March 25: The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-N) has expressed concern over the death of three women, including a 12 year-old child, in Bardiya National Park and has sought a proper investigation into the case.



Nepal Army personnel had shot them, accusing them of being poachers, on March 10.



"Two weeks after Nepal Army and National Park officials were involved in an incident where lethal force was used against alleged poachers in Bardiya National Park, the relevant state authorities have been unable to complete their investigations in accordance with the law and their mandates," OHCHR-N said in a statement.



OHCHR-N said the Nepal Army Act, as amended in 2007, provides the Nepal Police with jurisdiction to investigate incidents of alleged unlawful killings by Nepal Army officials.



“It is of the utmost importance that the Nepal Police and the National Human Rights Commission are able to conduct full, independent investigations with cooperation when Nepal Army personnel or any other authorities are alleged to have committed human rights violations”, stated Richard Bennett, OHCHR Representative in Nepal.

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