A Cabinet meeting had formed the committee led by Joint Government Attorney Saroj Prasad Gautam 10 days ago. The committee has been mandated to submit its reports within ten days. [break]
"We have initiated investigation form Friday," Gautam said, adding, "We will submit our report on time."
The committee comprises representatives from Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Forests and Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
Local human rights activist, however, raised questions over the credibility of the committee citing the controversial remarks from Defense Minister Bidhya Bhandari on the incident. "There is a question of impartiality as the defense minister has already termed the deceased as poachers," said Nanda Bhandari of Advocacy Forum.
He demanded formation of a probe panel led by a judge. "We have doubts over the impartiality of Gautam-led panel," he added.
Nepal Army personnel had shot dead three women -- Amrita BK, Devisara BK and 12-year-old Chandra Kala BK -- from Hariharpur of Surkhet when they were in the park to collect the bark of kaulo tree.
A Court of Inquiry of the Nepal Army has already given clean chit to its personnel involved in the killing, in contradiction with the local army commander´s earlier admission that the soldiers had erred in shooting the women.
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