Kathmandu, November 30

The National Human Rights Commission today drew its serious attention to the abduction and murder of eight-year-old boy Prayas Kunwar.

Prayas, the only child of Pravin Kunwar, was kidnapped from his house in Gongabu on Tuesday evening and murdered the same day. His body was found on the banks of the Samakhusi River yesterday.

A press release issued by the rights body said a high-level team led by NHRC member Govinda Sharma Paudyal visited the crime scene and Department of Forensic Science of the Maharajgunj-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital where the body has been kept for post-mortem.

“The abduction of a child from a sensitive place of the capital and his subsequent murder has not only put a question mark over the security situation but also has instilled a sense of fear in the people,” the NHRC said.

The rights body also warned that such incidents could cause adverse effects on child psychology and urged all concerned to take measures for the prevention and control of such crimes. “We appeal to all to be more sensitive to the security of children and ensure that such incidents are not repeated in future,” it said.

The NHRC also urged the government to bring to book the culprit(s) by conducting a fair investigation into the crime and provide compensation to the victim’s family.

Police have arrested Mahendra SK (Sarki), 22, of Syangja district in connection with the abduction and murder of Prayas. Mahendra was hired by the boy’s father as a driver for his guest house. On August 6, 11-year-ond Nishan Khadka of Pepsicola was kidnapped and murdered in Bhaktapur. Police had shot dead two men suspected of abducting and killing the boy the same day.