Kathmandu, December 1:

A Parliamentary Committee formed to investigate on Member of Parliament Hem Narayan Yadav’s killing in Siraha district has found involvement of a Lieutenant Colonel of Nepali Army in the murder.

According to the Committee’s report submitted to the House of Representatives today, Lt Col Babu Krishna Karki of Indrodhoj batallion based at Chauharwa of Siraha district, has been found involved in “abducting and killing” parliamentarian Yadav two years back.

The Parliamentary Committee has directed the government to immediately suspend and prosecute the “guilty” colonel on murder charges.

The Committee also found one Jaya Prasad Upadhaya of Siraha Municipality Ward No 7 of spying UML leader Yadav’s activity and helping the said Lt Colonel in abduction and killing.

“The government should punish such criminals,” stated the report yet to be publicised. The committee has also asked the government to provide compensation to the family of Yadav.

Submitting the report, the Chairman of the Committee, Anand Dhungana said that the killing of political persons on the protection of rulers must immediately end. He also demanded the government to declare Yadav as a martyer by granting him with national honour.

He said that the report is based on the statements acquired by the Committee from the then security chiefs and officials of the security agencies. “Murder of people by the state should immediately end,” said Dhungana. He said that the most of the people interviewed during the investigation process identified Nepali Army officers as guilty in Yadav’s killing. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had also helped the Committe to reach the conclusion. The probe Committee was formed in May after the restoration of the House.

Yadav was mysteriously killed, and his body was found with the Maoist flag on February 2, 2004 in Siraha district. Maoists however, never took charges of his murder. Nepali Army too had earlier investigated Yadav’s killing but never found its officer’s involvement in the case.

Lt Colonel Karki is still in service, and would be punished if proven guilty, according to the Directorate of Public Relations of Nepali Army.