Himalayan News Service

Charikot, May 20:

Human rights organisations investigating into the Mainapokhari bus shooting spree, in their report, have blamed the Maoists of violating the basic human rights laws and acting against the provisions in Geneva Convention, which the Maoists claim to respect.

They have also criticised the security forces of travelling in a passenger bus. It may be recalled that 15 people including civilians and the security forces were killed in an incident where the Maoists indiscriminately fired at a passenger bus at Mainapokhari of Kabre VDC on May 9. The report published today has stated that it was the irresponsibility on the part of the Maoists to fire indiscriminately at a passenger bus using modern guns despite knowing that there were civilians inside.

“The Maoists claim that they respect the Geneva Convention but on the contrary start indiscriminate firing on a bus boarded also by civilians without letting them chance to get off. This shows that they are showing double standard behaviour,” the report states.

“The security forces began the firing first,” the report said.

Quoting a security personnel, the report stated that the security forces had boarded on a passenger bus to provide security to the passengers because the Maoists had imposed a sanction in the area.