Promotion of tainted employees worries NHRC

Kathmandu, July 20

The National Human Rights Commission today said its attention was drawn to the government’s move to promote and decorate employees indicted by the constitutional body for human rights violations.

The rights watchdog also lamented poor implementation of its recommendations to the government. The NHRC discussed these issues with Inspector General of Police Prakash Aryal and officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Harihar Bhawan, Lalitpur.

During the meeting, NHRC Chairperson Anup Raj Sharma said the rights watchdog was devastated by the government’s decision to promote and decorate employees charged with grave rights violations and recommended for legal action.

“Sharma also urged IGP Aryal and MoHA officials to implement the recommendations of the NHRC,” stated a press release issued by the rights watchdog. The NHRC also raised the issues relating to 2012 rape and murder of 14-year-old girl Suntali Tamang in Ramechhap and complained that the perpetrator was only charged with murder.

Then Ramechhap police chief DSP Sanjeev Sharma Das, who let the perpetrator Shyam Raut off the hook, was recommended for promotion last week. The MoHA corrected its decision and suspended him yesterday.

According to the NHRC, the government did nothing to initiate legal action against the perpetrators involved in the killing of Dayaram Pariyar. “The government did not show seriousness to initiate actions against persons in some cases while it weakened the investigation process in others,” added the release.

Likewise, the NHRC drew the attention of concerned officials to police inaction in some cases of rape and chhaupadi practice despite adequate evidences.