Kathmandu, August 4:

Urging the government to take action against security personnel involved in killings of unarmed civilians, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the government to provide compensation to the victims’ families. Demanding that the government take action against security personnel involved in the killing of an unarmed civilian and teacher, Govinda Prasad Simkhada, a resident of Gumdi VDC, Dhading, Kedar Prasad Poudel, the NHRC spokesperson, demanded at a press meet organised by the NHRC in the Capital today that the government provide one lakh rupees in compensation to the victims’ family.

Security personnel had reportedly arrested Simkhada and killed him on May 11, 2005.

Security personnel reportedly killed Rama Adhikari at her house in Tagan Dubba VDC, Jhapa, this year.

The NHRC also called on the authorities to bring the guilty to book and provide one lakh rupees in compensation to the victim’s family. The NHRC has recommended legal action against security personnel for the killing of Suresh Baral and causing injury to Bankaji Gurung at the Rastriya Bank Chowk on December 12, 2003. The security personnel reportedly shot at Baral and Gurung, who were returning from a hospital on a motorcycle. “We didn’t raise the issue of compensation as the NHRC found that the family has already been compensated,” said Poudel. Sudip Pathak, an NHRC member, said, “We call on the Maoists to provide us with details and explanations on human rights violations that have been registered at the commission.” According to the NHRC, between 2000 and April 2005, 500 complaints, including

275 complaints about abduction, have been registered against the Maoists. Altogether 816 disappearances cases have been registered at the NHRC against the government.