Dhangadhi, June 1:

Relatives of those killed on the premises of Kailali district administration office on May 28 claimed bodies of the dead today.

The kin of the three persons killed in a clash with the police claimed the bodies following an agreement to compensate the victims’ families, said chief district officer Kshetra Bahadur Bhandari. The meeting was attended by representatives of the eight parties, bereaved families and the police administration.

Human rights activist Ramesh Basnet said each bereaved family was provided Rs 20,000 as cremation expenses. The DAO provided Rs 15,000 to each family, while SP at the district police office Suresh KC personally gave the three families Rs 15,000 for distribution among the victims’ kin as cremation expenses.

The Home Ministry had yesterday pledged in writing that it would recommend to the council of ministers for compensation, but the victims’ families had said the letters were meaningless because the letters were not signed by leaders of political parties.

CDO Bhandari said a meeting of officials the district administration office, human rights activists and representatives of eight parties will be held soon to resolve the problems facing

newspapers here. Media houses, citing insecurity, have halted the publication of newspapers.

Dirgha Raj Upadhyaya of the Federation of Nepali Journalists said the situation was not conducive for publication of newspapers, adding that the Maoists were to blame for this situation.

Bennett in Dhangadhi:

DHANGADHI: OHCHR representative to Nepal Richard Bennett arrived here on Sunday to monitor the investigation into the May 28 shooting incident. Talking to media Bennett said he would monitor the probe into the incident in which three commoners were killed, the problem of deforestation and other problems facing landless people. — HNS