Dhangadhi, February 12:

An INSEC report made public here today stated that government authorities left Maoists behind in violating human rights in nine districts of the far-west region in 2005. The report was prepared by the regional office of the Informal Sector Service Centre and made public at a press conference here today.

According to the report, Bajura witnessed highest number of rights violation cases in 2005. Following the set up of a Royal Nepalese Army barrack in Malika Higher Secondary School, over a thousand students were deprived of their right to education, the report said. The barrack was shifted to another place on August 3 only after an extensive criticism from all sectors, it said.

INSEC recorded 2,711 cases of rights violation from the side of the State, the Maoists and other sides in the far-west. It said the stated violated the rights of 1,511 people in 236 incidents while the Maoists violated rights of 1,052 persons in 372 cases and other sides violated rights of 148 people in 114 incidents.

Altogether 108 persons were killed - 63 by the Sate, 24 by the rebels and 21 by others. The report however reported a decline in the number of killings in the region as compared to the previous years. It recorded 793 abduction cases by the Maoists. This year, the state violated the people’s right to organise by placing obstructions, the report stated. It said 97 people were beaten up by the State, 57 by Maoists and 12 by others.

It also recorded 79 cases of threatening by Maoists and 21 by the State. It indicted the government 172 cases of arrests and torture.

The report recorded 39 cases of caste discrimination, 39 cases of women’s rights violation, 93 cases of violation of social and cultural rights in the region.

Although the State expressed its commitment time and again to the multiparty democracy, human rights and free press at national and international fora, those sectors are the most affected this year, the report said.