Kathmandu, June 1:

Former members of the NHRC Sushil Pyakurel, Kapil Shrestha and Dr Gauri Shankar Lal Das have urged the government to immediately suspend high-ranking army officers “who were

involved in illegal detention, torture, disappearance and the alleged killing of 49 individuals”.

Releasing a report on May 26, the OHCHR had said: “Most of the hundreds of individuals who were arrested by the RNA in 2003, and detained for varying periods in Maharajgunj barracks were subjected to severe torture and prolonged ill-treatment and torture, with the Bhairav Nath Battalion playing a principal role.”

Acknowledging the detention of 137 people in 2003, the battalion had said “these individuals were released or transferred after short period.” However, these don’t include at least 49 people OHCHR believes were in custody and who remain missing.

Ian Martin, representative of the OHCHR in Nepal, had said: “According to consistent, credible and corroborated testimony of victims and witnesses, these people were last seen in custody in Maharajgunj. Most former detainees interviewed by OHCHR believed that these detainees were executed.”

“We urge the government to immediately suspend the then commander of the 10th Brigade of the army, Colonel Raju Basnet, along with the Chief of Army Staff, the Director General of the army mobilisation department and the Director of the army intelligence department who were fully aware of these activities,” the former NHRC men said in a release.