Kathmandu, June 8:

The Supreme Court today directed government authorities to prosecute those accused of killing Daya Ram Pariyar, an official of the National Human Rights Commission, in Janakpur over two years ago.

A division bench of Justices Bala Ram KC and Kalyan Shrestha was responding to a writ petition filed by Pariyar’s family members and advocate Ratna Bahadur Bagchand.

“Investigate and prosecute those accused of the murder as soon as possible,” the mandamus order issued by the bench read.

The petitioners had moved the apex court demanding its order to the authorities — the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Dhanusha District Court — to punish Police Inspector Prakash Raj Sharma and police personnel who had allegedly fired at him on March 24, 2006.

The petitioners also claimed that the government authorities including the police have not shown any interest in investigating and prosecuting the defendants. The petitioners also called upon the government to compensate the family. They also sought the apex court order to the government to implement the NHRC recommendation.

The petitioners have accused the authorities of promoting impunity by not prosecuting the guilty security personnel in court.

The petitioners demanded action against those who had directed to shoot Pariyar and those who executed the order..