Instructs government to decide status of Janaki Medical College

Kathmandu, September 28

The seven-member taskforce of Social Justice and Human Rights Committee formed to study the incident in Tikapur of Kailali today submitted its report to the panel detailing the facts collected from its field visit.

The taskforce stated that the panel should recommend that the government probe the incident and take stern action against the culprit.

Jivan Kumar Shrestha-led taskforce said protesters killed eight police personnel and one child during the protest of  the Tharu community on August 24 in Tikapur of Kailali. The panel suggested that the government should also probe whether the administration had fulfilled its duty when the curfew order was issued.

“It is not good to see anyone as culprit just because s/he is a Tharu. So, the government should conduct scientific investigation,” the report said. The taskforce report said that the incident took place due to political dispute and the government should resolve it through political dealing with agitating groups.

As 18-month-old Tek Bahadur Saud was killed due to firing by protesters when he was playing in his house yard, it should be investigated by a special bureau of the government and stern action should be taken against the culprit, the report said.

The report stated that the government should provide relief or compensation to the families of those killed, injured and to those whose properties were damaged.

Meanwhile, the panel today instructed the concerned government authorities not to allow Janaki Medical College, Janakpur to take new admission of students until it operates in full capacity by arranging all important equipment, including ICU, Oxygen and CT Scanning.

A meeting of the House panel held today in Singha Durbar instructed the college administration to arrange the physical infrastructure and to get it inspected by the concerned bodies such as Institute of Medicine and National Medical Council.

The panel directed the government to decide whether the college can operate further. It asked the Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicine and Nepal Medical College to ensure the future of students of the college by managing their transfer to other colleges within 15 days if the college is not in a condition to operate.