Activists demand fair probe into killing

Kathmandu, August 23

Rights activists have demanded that the government launch a judicial probe into the killing of Kumar Shrestha aka Ghainte, a gangster, in police encounter.

Ghainte was killed after police fired multiple shots at him during a shootout in Samakhusi on Friday.

Speaking at a press meet organised in the capital by Samakhusi Youth Club today, rights activist and lawyer Dinesh Thripathi alleged that Nepal Police was trying to establish a police state in the country by taking the law into its hands.

“The duty of the police is to arrest and prosecute a suspect, not to kill him/her. The government should carry out a judicial probe into the incident to establish the fact,” he said. Rights activist Charan Prasai said the law has not allowed anyone to kill a citizen and demanded that the National Human Rights Commission be involved in an investigation into the incident. “An investigation carried out by police will not be enough and credible in this particular case,” he said.

Human rights lawyer Govinda Bandi alleged that police did not bother to take Ghainte under control to initiate legal action against him and fired bullets that pierced various parts of his body.

“Police are supposed to aim below the knees to overpower a suspect. Even police personnel should be brought to book if they are found guilty during investigation,” he suggested.