The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has started investigation into the killing of Sarlahi district in-charge of the Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN (Maoist) Kumar Paudel amid allegations that he was killed after being arrested.

Issuing a press statement on Friday, the national human rights watchdog, said the reports of the death of Maoist leader Paudel had drawn its serious attention. “An NHRC team from its central office as well as Province 2 office has already been deployed in order to investigate the incident,” said a press statement issued by NHRC Secretary Bed Bhattarai. 

A team from NHRC headquarters left for the incident site in Sarlahi on Friday morning. The team, which will also comprise some members from its Province 2 office, has been asked to submit a report as soon as possible.

The NHRC has also urged all concerned to extend all necessary support to the NHRC team. The government a few weeks ago had outlawed the outfit and launched a crackdown on its activities. 

Police claimed that Chand’s cadres who were riding motorcycles had first opened fire at the police team and Paudel, 47, was killed by retaliatory fire. The incident occurred at around 2 pm Thursday near the Lakhandehi River in Lalbandi Municipality of Sarlahi. Police had pursued the Maoists after receiving a tip-off.