KATHMANDU: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has drawn the government’s attention towards the use of force against victims of loan-sharking demonstrating for a few days at the local Shanti Batika, demanding justice.
The government has been urged to respect the citizens’ right to freedom of expression and freedom to assemble peacefully.
Issuing a press statement today, the national rights body expressed its concern over the ‘use of force’ against demonstrators, asking the government for respecting the Citizen’s right to freedom of opinion and expression and freedom to assemble peacefully guaranteed by the Constitution.
The NHRC through the Statement issued by its Spokesperson Dr. Tikaram Pokhrel demanded proper medical care for those injured in course of the police intervention in the peaceful demonstration at the Shanti Batika on Monday. He has asked the government for resolving the issue through meaningful talks.
The NHRC said that it also carried out a field monitoring of the incident. During the inspection, it came to know that police forcibly intervened with demonstrators as they were preparing to head towards Baluwatar to meet with the Prime Minister from Shanti Batika in Ratnapark.
Police restored to the force against the group, seized a cooking gas cylinder being used by them and foodstuffs from the site, apprehending them including aged people before taking them to the Mahendra Police Club and restoring to physical assaults targeting them, according to the NHRC.
It is said those injured in the incident are being treated at the Trauma Centre, Kathmandu.
The NRHC met with the injured and those put at the hospital administration and the Metropolis Police Circle, Durbarmarg to take updates surrounding the incident.
Among the injured, most suffered head injuries with three cases of severe injuries.
“This is a severe violation of the Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights-1948, Article 17 of the Constitution, the Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights-1966 which guarantee the citizen’s right to the freedom of the expression and the assembly peacefully,” the NHRC said.
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