A man in Kailali has moved the National Human Rights Commission accusing the police of committing religious affront against him.

Mansingh Dhami of Chure Rural Municipality-6 lodged a complaint with the commission yesterday saying police had violated his religious freedom by cutting his tuppi (a sacred lock of hair on the crest of the head of a follower of Hinduism) and janai (sacred thread worn after the coming-of-age ceremony) while he was in police custody.

Dhami has accused Phaltude Area Police Office In-charge Inspector Madhav BK of having his subordinate cut his tuppi and janai on August 5 when he was taken into custody for disturbing public peace under the influence of alcohol.

Holding a press conference in Dhangadi today, Dhami also informed of his plan to file similar complaint at the District Administration Office.

Inspector BK, however, denied that they had done anything that would amount to religious aggression.

“We, while he was in custody, had asked him to take off the sacred thread; when he refused, we simply  removed it. But we gave it back the day he was released,” said the inspector, adding that police had arrested Dhami acting on a complaint against him by his wife.

“We had picked him up after his wife Haramati Thagunna, who is also a ward member, filed a complaint that he had thrashed her under the influence of alcohol,” said the inspector.