Kathmandu, September 11 :

The relatives of those killed allegedly by Nepal Army personnel in Kaule village development committee in Nuwakot district four years ago today filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking compensation and punishment against the wrongdoers.

Army personnel allegedly killed five persons — Pariman Tamang, Jit Bahadur Tamang, Chandra Man Tamang, Chokta Tamang and Kanchha Tamang from the Kaule village development committee — in December 2002 when they were returning home, for no apparent reasons.

The Forum for Human Rights and Democracy has assisted the kin of the five to file the case.

The victims’ relatives have sought the apex court order to the government to provide compensation to them and punish the security personnel involved in the incident.

The petitioners have also sought the apex court directive to the government to promulgate an act to ensure compensation from the state and the perpetrators.

The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, teh Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Defence, Nepal Army Headquarters, Bhagawoti Prasad Barrack of the Nepal Army in Nuwakot district, the District Administration Office and District Police Office are made the defendants in the petition.

The petitioners also claimed that the army had violated the right to life and the international Convention on Civil and Political Rights of those persons who were killed.

“The army men have committed a serious crime, thus they should face maximum punishment,” the petition states.