KATHMANDU, Aug 7: The Accountability Watch Committee (AWC) has urged the National Human Rights Commission to conduct an independent and effective investigation into killing of outlawed Communist Party of Nepal leader Kumar Paudel and recommend prosecution of the perpetrators. It has also demanded that the report of the investigation into the killing be made public without further delay. 

In a memorandum submitted to the NHRC on Tuesday the AWC has asked the commission’s chairperson to carry out new investigations into previous cases of extra-judicial killings. “We appeal to the chairperson to restart the halted investigations into alleged extra-judicial killings of the past and find out the reasons for keeping the incidents of gross human rights violations secret,” said AWC’s coordinator Charan Prasai.

The committee has urged the government to punish those NHRC officials and staffers who ignored their official duty and protected the perpetrators instead of making genuine effort to ensure justice to the victims and inform the public about it. 

On June 20, Paudel was killed by police. His death, however, has drawn controversy after several human rights organizations challenged the Nepal Police’s statement that Paudel was killed in an exchange of fire. The relatives of the deceased, locals and fact- finding reports of various human rights organizations questioned the police claim. They suspect that Paudel was arrested by police, tortured and shot dead. 

“Despite the fact that concerns have been raised in the Federal Parliament regarding this issue, the government doesn’t seem serious to investigate the incident. Therefore, AWC suspects that the government is attempting to protect the alleged perpetrators,” said the AWC.

 
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