Kathmandu, February 16:

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today urged the government to provide security and demonstrators to follow peaceful means taking into account the impending constituent assembly election.

After monitoring the bandh and strike in the eastern hills and the Tarai, the NHRC said the demonstrations have affected students, movement of ambulance and other vehicles and free movement of people. The NHRC said the monitoring units had found that the bandh organisers had forcefully closed shops and security men also used excessive force to control the situation.

The NHRC has also condemned the blast at Regional Resource Centre of Nepalgunj and expressed concern about the use of force in the scuffle between the demonstrators and police force in Bhaktapur incident.

“We urged the demonstrators not to disturb education, transportation and supply of necessary goods. We urged the government to solve the problems through talks, not to use too much force, to make arrangements for security of commoners and supply of necessary goods,” an NHRC press release stated.