NHRC requests police personnel not to use force on loan shark victims

KATHMANDU, April 18: The National Human Rights Commission has requested the police personnel not to use force against the 'loan shark' victims who are conducting sit-in at Shanti Batika in Kathmandu.

The commission has requested the government to respect and protect the rights of the citizens to gather peacefully and express their opinions, and not to use excessive force on the protesters.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday by the spokesperson of the commission, Dr Tikaram Pokharel, the government has been requested to provide effective treatment for the injured persons during the sit-in and resolve the problem through meaningful dialogue.

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In addition, the commission has requested those who are conducting sit-ins to protest and demonstrate in a dignified and peaceful manner. The commission said that its attention has been drawn to the incident where the police used excessive force to injure and arrest the usury victims who have been staging a sit-in at Shanti Batika in Kathmandu for the past few days demanding justice.

The commission also conducted an on-site monitoring of the incident. The monitoring team of the commission found that the victims of 'loan shark' who were on a peaceful sit-in at Shanti Batika in Kathmandu were stopped by the police when they were leaving the Shanti Batika to meet the prime minister.

According to the commission, it was found that the police used excessive force to arrest the people during the sit-in. Likewise, the cooking gas, food and other materials used by the victims were forcibly taken away, the protestors and the elderly were also taken into custody and beaten on the premises of the Nepal Police Club.

One of the loan  shark victims was injured in the police action and is being treated at the trauma center in Kathmandu. The monitoring team of the commission also met the hospital administration and the Metropolitan Police Circle chief and took information from the people who were kept at Durbarmarg. Most of the injured were found to have head injuries and three people who are being treated at the trauma center are in serious condition.