Kathmandu, February 7:

Releasing its preliminary report today on the basis of its monitoring visits in Siraha, Sunsari, Sarlahi, Janakpur, Jaleshowr, Bara, Parsa and Rautahat, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) expressed concern about violation of human rights from both the agitating groups and security forces.

The NHRC has urged the government to meet demands of the Terai and the agitating forces to demonstrate peacefully. The report accuses police of using excessive force and calls organisers of the movement to take responsibility for destruction caused in course of the movement.

The report says demonstrations have not been peaceful and display of batons, clubs and other domestic arms have created terror among the locals. “Police have been found using excessive force and abusing the locals,” the report states.

Stating that rights situation in the eastern and central Terai has been “woeful” due to the Terai movement, the report says: “Life has been painful and miserable due to the infinite bandh in the Terai, organised by the Madheshi Janaadhikar Forum and other bodies. Passengers have been stranded due to highway blockage.”

“It seems the movement in the Terai is for basic human rights like self-determination and appropriate representation,” the report says, urging all concerned not to violate human rights.

During the protest, the activists of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) have brutally murdered a sub-inspector and abducted others, the report says, adding that some arms were looted from a police post at Rautahat. The shootout by Maoist activists in Lahan of Siraha and the act of capturing the dead body has violated the peace accord, the report says. “Media persons were not only barred from doing their duty but also beaten inhumanly and threatened.”

Talking to media persons, the acting secretary of the NHRC, Dhruba Nepal, said, “After organising demonstrations in such fragile circumstances, the organisers cannot turn their back by merely claiming that demolition was carried out by the infiltrators. It is their duty to identify, nab and hand over such ‘unwanted elements’ to the security apparatus and continue their demonstrations in peaceful ways.”