KATHMANDU: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today said that it was all set to launch an inquiry into the release of three police personnel accused of gang-raping their colleague - a woman police constable posted in Achham.

The constitutional rights body is seeking an explanation from

the Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal over the release of the

accused.

Stating that no evidence was found against them for their involvement in the offense, the government had released them on Monday. But the Commission said it had ample evidence from its report that the culprits had committed unpardonable offense.

The rights body has also decided that it will seek explanation from the Attorney General Pro Bharat Bahadur Karki and Inspector General of Nepal Police Ramesh Chand Thakuri as to why the culprits were released.

A meeting to this effect was held today, which took the decision unanimously, Gauri Pradhan, Commissioner and Spokesperson, NHRC told The Himalayan Times.

“This is a serious insult to the NHRC,” he said.

According to Pradhan, NHRC wants to know why the Assistant Police Inspector Dan Singh Bhandari, Head Constable Biradutta Badu and Constable Naribhan Mahatara who were the accused in the gang rape case, were freed from their captivity.

On Sunday, NHRC ‘convicted’ them of being involved in the gang-rape on October 11 on their colleague in Achham District Police Office and recommended the government to sack them from job.

In contrary to NHRC’s order, the government set the culprits free, Pradhan said. The NHRC said it verified the evidence and cross-examined the victims even after their release and found that the offense was committed, he said.

“We have enough of evidence to prove that the offense was committed. And this is a serious insult to our recommendation,” he added, making its report public on Sunday.

The report has recommended the government to punish the guilty by relieving them from their job.

Following today’s development, NHRC has called its meeting

tomorrow.