Locals demand probe into killings and torture by State and Maoist rebels

Rukum, January 1

Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a government body formed to probe serious human rights violations during the decade-long Maoist insurgency, started discussions with stakeholders in Rukum from today.

In view of the large number of cases of human rights violations reported from the district, the TRC team led by member Shreekrishna Subedi held discussions with chiefs of various government offices, media persons, civil society representatives and conflict victims in the district headquarters Musikot.

While some of the victims lamented that the local peace committee had failed to identify the genuine conflict victims, others demanded a fair investigation into the killings and tortures by both the State and the former rebels.

Though the commission has been mandated to investigate only incidents of human rights violations from February 13, 1996 to November 21,2006, stakeholders claimed that a dozen other murders had taken place in the district before and after the period.

Coordinator of the local Peace Committee Khadga Bahadur Dangi briefed the TRC team on the plight of the conflict victims, who were not provided the government-distributed relief.

Besides, stakeholders also demanded investigation into indiscriminate killings of innocent people and arson by the state and abduction and subsequent murder of dozens of others by then Maoist rebels in Khara.

“As there were a lot of incidents of murder, sexual violence, hostage-taking and torture, the commission should investigate all the cases fairly and ensure justice to the victims,” said human rights activist Jiban Khadka.