KATHMANDU, July 24

The National Human Rights Commission has urged the government to take action against officials indicted for the killing of five youths in Dhanusha and charge them with rights violations.

Sanjiv Kumar Karna, Durgesh Labh, Jitendra Jha, Pramod Narayan Mandal and Shailendra Kumar Yadav of Dhanusha were allegedly killed by security officials on October 8, 2003.

The then chief district officer Rewati Ra j Kafle, superintendent of police Chuda Bahadur Shrestha, DSP Kuber Singh Rana and Nepali Army major Anup Adhikari were among those indicted by NHRC for the murder of the youths.

Article 132(2h) of the Interim Constitution authorises the NHRC to publish, in accordance with law, the names of the officials, persons or bodies who have failed to observe or implement any recommendations or directives made or given by NHRC in relation to the violations of human rights, and list them as violators of human rights.

“It is against the commission’s recommendation and constitutional provision that the culprits have not been brought to book yet,” read a statement issued by NHRC. “The government’s reluctance to initiate action in the conflict-era incident has seriously deprived the victims of their right to justice.”

NHRC stated that the government’s failure to act against those indicted for killing the youths was an extreme case of impunity.

NHRC had recommended on January 29, 2008, that the government should take action against the security officials responsible for the killings.

Mortal remains of the victims were recovered from the banks of the Kamala River in August-September 2010 and February-March 2011 and were handed over to their families after DNA tests confirmed their identities.