Kathmandu, August 3:

Protection officer at the Nepal Human Rights Commission Basudev Bajagain said today that cases of murder, theft and violence were on the rise because of the culture of impunity. Bajagain was speaking at a discussion on impunity organised today by the Human Rights Eye, Nepal (HREN). In most of the cases, the state has not bothered to act on reports submitted by the NHRC and punish the guilty, he said.

“The NHRC is fighting against impunity,” he said, adding, “All the rights bodies should pressure the state and compel it to act against impunity.”

He also called on the Constituent Assembly to direct the government to act responsibly to safeguard the rights of individuals.

Executive member Sarala Sharma presented HREN’s review with regard to incidents of violence during the Constituent Assembly elections. Sharma also brought to light the cases of victims, who had not been compensated. The report pointed that cases of violence, defiance and disobedience undermined the concept of rule of law. It added that

kin of 17 labourers from Dhading, who were killed by the then Royal Nepali Army in Kalikot, had not been compensated.

General secretary of the Nepal Bar Association Ram Kumar Shrestha said impunity was rampant in the judiciary.