After the death of 35-year-old Gange Sunar of Birendranagar–11 on November 7 while in custody at the Surkhet District Police Office, the Karnali Province Office of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) Karnali Province, and Advocacy Forum Karnali Province jointly monitored the detention site.
According to Narayan Subedi, coordinator of INSEC Karnali, the monitoring team held discussions with other detainees who were in custody with the deceased, his family members, police personnel, and concerned authorities.
The team collected preliminary details regarding the cause of the incident, condition of the detention facility, health management, and monitoring system.
Following his death, the family members protested, alleging the incident to be suspicious. After discussions between the District Administration Office, Surkhet, and the victim’s family, a five-member investigation committee was formed to examine the facts of the case.
The committee, coordinated by Administrative Officer Hit Prasad Paudel of the District Administration Office, Surkhet, includes Ward Chairperson of Birendranagar Municipality–11 Khimlal Devkota, Coordinator of Human Rights Defenders Network, Karnali Province, Pitambar Dhakal, Provincial Secretary of the National Dalit Journalists Association, Nepal, Malati BK, and family representative Gita Sunar.
The deceased’s wife, Yadu Sunar, has demanded an impartial investigation. “Our family is seeking justice. My husband was healthy — we don’t believe he died of illness. The truth must be made public,” she said.
The NHRC Karnali Province Office stated that death in custody is a serious human rights concern and stressed that the investigation must be fair. Ramesh Kumar Thapa, head of the NHRC Karnali Province Office, said, “Detainees are under the responsibility of the state, so death in custody cannot be considered normal. The reason must be clearly established.”
The police, however, have claimed that the death occurred due to natural causes. “We did not engage in any form of misconduct,” said DSP Mohan Jung Budhathapa, adding that “he was under medication for blood pressure and diabetes.”
According to him, the District Police Office will provide all details of the incident to the investigation committee. Sunar, who had been arrested on August 19 with five grams of illegal drugs, was found dead at around 6 a.m. on November 7.