Bajura, April 22

A human skull has been kept safely in the cupboard of CPN-UML party office in Bajura for the last ten years.

The skull of then UML deputy secretary Tara Chandra Regmi of Kolti VDC, who was killed by the Maoist rebels during the insurgency, has been kept to be used as evidence against the murderers.

Chief of publicity department of UML, Amar Khadka, said that they had recovered the skull from the grave and kept it for use as evidence. “We recovered the skull from the grave after Regmi was killed,” said UML alternative central committee member Karna Bahadur Thapa.

It is said that Regmi was abducted from his house and killed in 2003. The excavation of the grave was carried out after then Maoist rebels signed the peace accord with the government in 2006.

It is said Regmi was killed after being taken under control during a party campaign from Kuldevmandau VDC on March 6, 2004. The Maoists had taken the responsibility for the murder issuing a press statement on March 25, 2004.

UML central member Lal Bahadur Thapa said Regmi was held hostage in Rishidaha, Achham, where he was later murdered.

Unified CPN-Maoist district leaders said it would be wrong raise the issue, especially since transitional justice mechanisms have been set up to look into conflict-era human rights violation cases. “Regmi was killed as per the party’s instructions,” said a Maoist cadre.

Meanwhile, UML has been preparing to file a case seeking justice for Regmi’s family. “We will file a case after discussions with Regmi’s family and party,” said Bala Dev Regmi-the UML district Secretary.