KATHMANDU: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today urged the government to bring the culprits to book who had recently shot dead media entrepreneurs Arun Singhaniya and Jamim Shah so as to create positive environment to the common people and the professionals to live without fear.

Issuing a press release, the NHRC also called the government to punish the killers of journalists Birendra Shah, Prakash Thakuri, JP Singh and Uma Singh. It has also urged the government to punish those guilty of physically injuring Tika Bista.

"Such heinous acts have deprived the rights of the journalists to live in positive environment and their professions," Bishal Khanal, Secretary of the NHRC said. "These incidences have come one after another despite the directive of the NHRC to the security agencies, including the secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, last week, to boost security situation," the rights body added. The NHRC also condemned the murder of Asharam Sunar, a YCL cadre.

Meanwhile, Professionals' Alliance for Peace and Democracy (PAPAD) is protesting nationwide on Sunday demanding the government for their professional security. In a press statement issued here Wednesday, PAPAD said the protest is to pressure the government and the political parties for establishing peace, security and timely drafting of the new constitution.