Rights defenders demand judicial probe on Tinkune violence

Kathmandu, April 6: The rights defenders have demanded the government to launch a judicial probe on the Tinkune violence and ensure accountability to end repetition of such incident.

Coordinator of the Accountability Watch Group, Raju Prasad Chapagain, Director at the Amnesty International Nepal, Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of the Advocacy Forum Nepal, Bikash Basnet, and Chairperson of the JURI Nepal, Rukmini Maharjan, issued a joint statement on Sunday, expressing concern over the information the Nepal Police shared on April 2 on the use of force in the demonstration at Tinkune on March 28, resulting in the loss of life.

“In order to end impunity relating to the incident, we urge the government to form a judicial mechanism so that it would study and analyse the existing law and practices on the use of force and violent activities in line with international human rights law, principles and practices and recommend government for further correction,” the statement read.

They also reminded that the investigation and prosecution over the arson, vandalism and looting must not be influenced by political interest and pressure.