The incident of the death of Bijay Ram Chamar, who was arrested and detained by the Nepal Police, has drawn the serious attention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Chamar died while undergoing treatment at the National Medical College in Birgunj.
A statement issued on August 28, 2020, states that it is very upsetting to know about the death of a person in police custody on suspicion.
He was allegedly tortured while in police custody. The commission has also mentioned that the Provincial Office Janakpur has started an investigation.
In this regard, the commission has requested to provide a copy of his health examination report and post-mortem report as soon as possible.
The commission has stated that request has been made in a letter to the District Police Office Rautahat and T.U Teaching Hospital, Forensic Department, Maharajgunj.
Earlier, Shambhu Sada died in police custody in Dhanusha of Province No. 2.
Similarly, the commission has found that the death of Raju Sada at the Provincial Hospital Janakpurdham, the murder of Tribhuvan Ram in Saptari, the murder of Roshan Ram in Siraha and a series of other incidents of murder, violence and caste-based discrimination against the Dalit community.
The commission has mentioned that incidents of killing and violence against the Dalit community have been taking place in Kalikot, Kailali, Rukum, Ilam and other districts recently.
The commission has stated that these incidents are against the constitution of Nepal which has been made to eradicate the situation of caste discrimination from the society. The commission has stated that these acts are against the right against untouchability and discrimination as per Article 24 of the Constitution, the right to equality as per Article 18, the right of Dalits as per Article 40 and the right to live with dignity as per Article 16.
Similarly, the commission has reminded that it is contrary to the Ethnic and Other Social Untouchability and Discrimination (Fault and Punishment) Act, 2068 BS and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 1965.
The government has been called upon to bring the perpetrators of such inhumane and criminal incidents to justice by conducting a meticulous and impartial investigation. In the statement issued by the secretary and spokesperson of the commission, Ved Bhattarai, the commission has requested to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.