National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a statement on August 11 saying its attention had been drawn towards the protests that occurred in some district to oppose the state demarcation. Expressing regret over the death of two protesters and injuries to some in Surkhet during the demonstration, NHRC urged the government for their effective treatment. “It has been found that the police fired after the mob began setting on fire the government vehicles, political parties’ office buildings and individual properties. We called on police, administration and demonstrators to remain restrained and not make the protest more violent”, the statement says. Saying that the bandh had violated the individuals’ right to freedom of mobility and conduct business, NHRC asked the demonstrators to express themselves in a peaceful manner.

Ramesh Prasad Timalsina