Kathmandu, August 25

Amnesty International Nepal has said that it is deeply disturbed by the news of the death of a 14-year-old Sunny Khuna, who received a live bullet fired by police at protestors in Kanchanpur.

Locals have been staging protest in Kanchanpur, demanding that the culprits behind the rape and murder of a 13-year-old Nirmala Panta be identified, tried and brought to justice.

Following intense public pressure, police on August 20 had arrested one Dilip Singh Bista for alleged involvement in the crime. The locals, however, had continued their protest alleging that  Bista was framed by the police and falsely charged for the crime.

“AI Nepal is deeply troubled by the deteriorating law and order situation in Kanchanpur and urges the local administration to exercise maximum possible restraint while enforcing laws to calm the situation. We also urge the protestors to respect the rule of law and resort to peaceful means of protests,” a press release by the rights watchdog said today.

“The incident resulting in the death of Khuna and injuries of twenty four others yesterday due to  police firing is deeply disturbing. We urge the authorities and law-enforcement officials in Nepal to only resort to a legitimate use of force, and always adhere to the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms, which requires officials to apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms. The Basic Principles allows the use of force and firearms only if other means remain ineffective or without any promise of achieving the intended result,” it added.

AI Nepal also urged the authorities to carry out independent and impartial inquiry into the event leading to the violence, and to provide prompt and effective redress and justice to the victims and their families.