Update on Pending Cases

This section provides an update on the 62 cases—all alleging grave human rights violations—described in Waiting for Justice. Each case starts with a brief descriptor of the case, drawn from the “Summary of Testimony from FIR” in the appendix of Waiting for Justice. The update section then goes on to describe developments over the last year.[34]

Case 1:

Name: Raju B.K.

District: Baglung

On March 1, 2002, soldiers arrested Raju B.K. at his father’s house in Baglung Municipality-11. On March 4, a soldier contacted his family and brought them to the District Police Office (DPO), where the relatives were informed that Raju was killed while trying to escape. Raju had been shot twice on the left side of his chest and sustained injuries on his neck and forehead. The army pressured the family into cremating the body as soon as possible, and soldiers were present while the family conducted the funeral. Raju’s father tried to file a FIR, and, when no investigation of the incident took place, later appealed to the CDO, Prime Minister, and the NHRC. The Baglung DPO finally filed an FIR on March 18, 2007.

Update: On June 18, 2009, Raju’s family filed a petition of mandamus at the Baglung Appellate Court seeking an order for the police to promptly investigate the FIR filed in March 2007 and file charges to initiate prosecution of the alleged perpetrators. The DPO and public prosecutor sought to have the petition rejected, informing the court that “charge sheets can be filed only if investigations find evidence,” and that filing of charges is a decision of the Attorney General’s Office. However, Raju’s relatives believe that the police never really attempted to investigate and secure evidence. Advocacy Forum lawyers have been unable to find any evidence of progress in the police files. A final hearing was scheduled for September 7, 2009 but it was cancelled because the court was closed for Civil Servant Day. The next hearing is scheduled for October 14, 2009.

Case 2 and 3:

Name: Ganga Gauchan and Pahalbir BK (Pahal Singh)

District: Baglung

On July 11, 2004, four soldiers from Khadgadal Barracks beat Ganga Gauchan and Pahalbir BK in Tara VDC-5, in Sagukot. According to several witnesses, the soldiers then shot and killed them. Families of the two victims were threatened by members of the army and forced to dispose of the bodies immediately. Both families complained to the District Administration Office and the police, but no investigation was conducted. Police finally filed a FIR on February 15, 2007.

Update: On June 18, 2009, the victims' families filed separate petitions of mandamus with the Baglung Appellate Court. The authorities once again opposed the petitions, claiming that there was no evidence to merit filing charges and that in any case the Attorney General’s Office had to make the decision. A final hearing was scheduled for September 7, 2009 but it was cancelled because the court was closed for Civil Servant Day. The next hearing is scheduled for October 14, 2009.

Case 4:

Name: Dilli Prasad Sapkota

District: Baglung

A large group of security personnel arrested Dilli Prasad Sapkota on February 8, 2005, at Danbisaula, Pala VDC-9, in Baglung District. According to eyewitnesses, Dilli was tied to a tree, severely tortured, and finally shot dead. His family complained to Baglung DPO, but instead of registering the complaint, police officers threatened to kill the family. The Baglung DPO finally promised to file an FIR in 2006, but continued to delay the registration.

Update: As of August 2009, the FIR has still not been filed. The family has stated that they have lost hope and are no longer pursuing the case.

Case 5 and 6:

Name: Dal Bahadur Thapa and Parbati Thapa

District: Banke

A large group of security forces opened fire upon Dal Bahadur Thapa and his wife Parbati of Madanchowk, Banke District, on September 10, 2002. According to Dal’s mother, the officers forced the family to leave the house, stole money and personal property, and planted bombs. The next morning, security forces returned and retrieved the planted bombs. They then claimed that there was a clash with terrorists and that Dal and Parbati had been killed in the exchange of fire. Dal’s mother tried to register complaints with the army, the Armed Police Force (APF), the DAO, and the Banke DPO, but she was spurned and threatened at each institution. Police finally registered a FIR on July 15, 2007, after the Nepalgunj Appellate Court ordered the Banke DPO to do so. The police started investigations in May 2008, but the officers implicated in the complaint failed to respond.

Update: On April 16, 2009, the Area Police Office in Kohalpur sent a reminder, as a follow up to its May 5, 2008 letter to the Bageshwori Battalion of the APF, asking it to produce the suspects. On May 9, 2009, the Area Police Office informed Advocacy Forum representatives that there had been no response to the reminder.

 On June 18, 2009, Dal’s mother filed a petition of mandamus at the Nepalgunj Appellate Court seeking an order for the police to promptly start an investigation into the FIR and to file charges against the alleged perpetrators.

Giving priority to this case, the Appellate Court scheduled a hearing on June 19, 2009. During the hearing, the judges asked why the mandamus petition had been delayed. They also referred briefly to the Maina Sunuwar case, wondering how effective a court order would be, if and when it was issued. The court ordered a “show cause” order for the Kohalpur APO, the DPO, and the public prosecutor to respond within 15 days. As of mid-September 2009, the court had not received their responses.

Case 7 and 8:

Name: Dhaniram Chaudhari and Jorilal Chaudhari

District: Banke

On September 29, 2004, during APF operations in Premnagar village of Khaskusma VDC ward no. 4, according to witnesses, security personnel detained brothers Dhaniram and Jorilal Chaudhari, and then shot them while in custody. When the victims’ wives tried to recover the bodies, security personnel threatened them. Relatives repeatedly tried to complain to the Banke DPO and CDO, but were ignored. After much resistance, police finally registered a FIR on October 29, 2007. Upon further pressure, the Kohalpur Area Police Office wrote to both the army and APF on May 5, 2008, but no responses were received.

Update:Relatives filed a petition of mandamus seeking an immediate police investigation and the filing of charges against those responsible.

As of mid-September 2009, the court had not received responses from police to notices issued by the court.

Case 9:

Name:  Keshar Bahadur Basnet

District:  Bardiya

On March 11, 2002, Keshar Bahadur Basnet was beaten by soldiers at his office in Bhurigaun, Banke District, and then arrested. According to Keshar’s elder brother, Dip Bahadur Basnet, and others who witnessed his arrest, Keshar was taken to the Thakurdhwara Army Barracks, but his family was refused access to him.

Another detainee told his relatives that he saw Keshar being driven away after over a month in illegal detention on April 16, 2002. He was accompanied by seven or eight soldiers. The Home Ministry later reported Keshar was killed in an armed encounter on April 11, 2002. The Bardiya DPO, after initial resistance, registered an FIR on February 14, 2007. The DPO contacted the Barakhadal Battalion (stationed at Thakurdhwara Army Barracks at the time) and asked them to respond to the allegations made in the FIR.

Update: On June 18, 2009, a petition of mandamus was filed at the Nepalgunj Appellate Court by the victim's family seeking a police investigation into the case.

Soon after the mandamus petition was filed before the Appellate Court and after a meeting between local politicians and the CDO where the police promised to investigate the case, the DPO Bardiya sent letters to three witnesses named in the FIR. Those people appeared at the DPO and gave their statements. After the court received replies from the respondents, a hearing was scheduled for September 13, 2009 but it could not take place as the court ran out of time.

Case 10:

Name:    Bhauna Tharu (Bhauna Chaudhary)

District: Bardiya

According to witnesses, who were mostly Bhauna’s family members, on May 30, 2002, two soldiers shot Bhauna Tharu dead in his home in Sujanpur village, Neulapur VDC-4, in Bardiya District. Bhauna’s family recognized one of the soldiers. But when Bhauna’s father initially approached the Bardiya CDO, the officer rejected his complaint. A month later, two men attempted to bribe Bhauna’s father to sign a document stating that his son was a Maoist, but he refused. Bhauna’s father continued to approach the office of the CDO. On July 24, 2006, the Bardiya DPO registered an FIR after being ordered by the CDO to do so. The DPO attempted to contact the Thakurdhwara Army barracks for information about the suspects, but the army did not respond.

Update: On June 18, 2009, a petition of mandamus was filed at the Nepalgunj Appellate Court by the victim's family. The court issued a “show cause notice.”

Around the time the court gave this order, the DPO Bardiya sent letters to the witnesses specified in the FIR. Those people appeared at the DPO and gave their statements.

After the court received replies from the respondents, a hearing was scheduled for September 13, 2009 but it could not take place as the court ran out of time.

Case 11 and 12:

Name: Nar Bahadur Budhamagar and Ratan Bahadur Budhamagar

District: Dadeldhura

Soldiers picked up two brothers, Nar Bahadur and Ratan Bahadur, from their house in Jogmudha VDC-4, Gajalidanda, Dadeldhura District, on August 17, 2004 and, according to witnesses, later shot them dead, not far from their home. Two of the soldiers took Ratan’s wife to a nearby cowshed and raped her repeatedly. They also detained another brother, Man Bahadur Budhamagar, keeping him in illegal custody and torturing him for 17 days until he signed a statement saying that the soldiers did not rape his sister-in-law. When the family went to the Kanchanpur DPO to complain, the DPO refused to register their complaint. The DPO finally registered a FIR on June 18, 2007, after Advocacy Forum lawyers threatened to file for contempt of court as the police were not acting on an April 9, 2007 order from the Mahendranagar Appellate Court.

Update: Relatives filed a second mandamus, as well as a contempt of court petition, on June 5, 2008, because the police were not proceeding with investigations. In response to an order issued by the Kanchanpur Appellate Court on June 8, 2008, the DPO replied that it was conducting an investigation to identify the perpetrators. Police also informed the court that a preliminary report had been forwarded to the public prosecutor. The court therefore quashed the contempt of court petition on February 8, 2009. We have no information on what the public prosecutor has done since receiving the report.

Case 13:

Name: Jaya Lal Dhami

District: Dadeldhura

On February 12, 2005, security forces killed Jaya Lal Dhami at Putalibazaar. Villagers later reported that soldiers marched Jaya Lal and three others to the scene and executed them. Jaya Lal’s uncle contacted the Bhagatpur army barracks, who told him that Jaya Lal had been “accidentally” killed in a confrontation with alleged terrorists. The family went to the DPO and, later, the CDO to register the case, but both refused. Finally, on September 10, 2007, the police filed an FIR. As far as Advocacy Forum is aware the police did not follow up with investigations.

Update: On June 18, 2009, the family filed a petition of mandamus at the Kanchanpur Appellate Court, seeking a court order for police to promptly investigate the FIR. The court issued a “show cause” notice on June 21, 2009 requiring the respondents to inform the court within 7 days of any reason, if any, why the writ must not be issued. The respondents replied that the investigation was ongoing and there was no need to issue a writ petition. The court quashed the petition of mandamus on August 23, 2009 stating that the FIR has already been filed and the investigation is going on.  

Case 14:

Name: Sarala Sapkota

District:  Dhading

Soldiers arrested 15-year-old Sarala Sapkota on July 15, 2004 from her grandfather’s house in Chhapagaun, Dhading District. However, when her relatives went to Baireni Barracks and the Dhading DPO, the officers denied that the arrest had taken place. For 16 months, the family received no information on Sarala’s whereabouts. On January 11, 2006, an NHRC team uncovered her remains near her village. In June 2006, the police finally registered a FIR, but there was no progress in the investigation. In November 2007, the father filed a mandamus petition in the Supreme Court.

Update: Supreme Court hearings on the mandamus application scheduled for January 5, 2009, and June 22, 2009, were both postponed because the court did not have time to conduct them. The next hearing which was scheduled for August 16, 2009, could not take place for the same reason. The next hearing is scheduled for January 25, 2010. Thus, a petition seeking a prompt police investigation has gone unheard by the court for more than a year.

Case 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19:

Name: Sanjeev Kumar Karna, Durgesh Kumar Labh, Jitendra Jha, Shailendra Yadav, and Pramod Narayan Mandal

District: Dhanusha

Security forces arrested 11 people including the five above-named victims in the Kataiyachauri area of Janakpur Municipality-4, on October 8, 2003, and took them to the Regional Police Office in Janakpur. The next day, their families complained to the NHRC, which initiated an investigation. There was no news of the arrested men until more than two years later, when the NHRC received a letter from the Nepal Army Human Rights Cell stating that the five men had been killed in a “police operation.” On July 9, 2006, the families attempted to file two FIRs with the Dhanusha DPO, but the police informed them that it would not act on any conflict-related FIRs. In July 2006, witnesses showed police the site where the bodies of the men were believed to be buried. The fathers of Sanjeev Kumar Karna and Pramod Narayan Mandal filed a mandamus petition in the Supreme Court in January 2007.

Update: Although it is now three years since witnesses identified the site, Advocacy Forum lawyers have been unable to find any evidence of steps being taken to exhume the remains.

In response to the Supreme Court, the DPO initially argued that a FIR had not been registered in Diary No. 10 (the register for FIRs), and therefore there was no need to act on it. The Supreme Court, in its final hearing on the petition on February 3, 2009, issued a writ for the police to register the FIR and proceed with investigations. The FIR was subsequently registered. In its judgement, the Supreme Court noted the conflicting versions provided by the army and the police. An internal police investigation report states that the students were handed over to the Bhiman Barracks. The army on the other hand informed the court that the police were responsible for the disappearances and killing.

On January 29, 2008, the NHRC wrote a letter to the prime minister and Council of Ministers recommending that the government provide NRs300,000 (US$3,922) compensation to the families and initiate further investigations with a view to bring those responsible to justice.

Case 20 and 21:

Name:  Ram Chandra Lal Karna and Manoj Kumar Dutta

District:  Dhanusha

Security forces arrested Ram Chandra Lal Karna and Manoj Kumar Dutta on October 12, 2003, and beat Manoj severely. They were then taken to the Dhanusha DPO. Relatives went to several police stations and organizations but did not receive responses to their complaints. The men “disappeared.”

Two years later, on June 7, 2005, the Human Rights Cell of the Nepal Army informed the NHRC that the two men had been killed in an armed encounter. The families filed two FIRs on October 19, 2006. In January 2008, the Dhanusha DPO informed Advocacy Forum that it would not act on any conflict-related FIRs.

Update: On June 18, 2009, the relatives of Manoj Kumar and Ram Chandra Lal filed separate petitions at the Janakpur Appellate Court, seeking orders for the police to promptly start investigations into the FIRs registered in October 2006. On June 19, the court issued a “show cause” order seeking a reply within 15 days specifying the reasons, if any, why a writ of mandamus should not be issued. After the court received replies from the respondents, a hearing has been scheduled for November 10, 2009.

Case 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26:

Name:  Lapten Yadav,Ram Nath Yadav, Shatrughan Yadav, Rajgir Yadav, and Ram Pukar Yadav

District: Dhanusha

Security personnel arrested these five men at their homes in Chorakoyalpul VDC-2, Dhanusha, early in the morning of October 1, 2004. According to eyewitnesses, they were first beaten and later, around 5 a.m., security forces shot and killed them in Chaurikhet, south of Keutani village, in Chorakoyalpur VDC. People dressed in civilian clothing but claiming to be security forces later informed the families that the men had been killed because of false information identifying them to be Maoists. On May 13, 2005, the NHRC started an investigation into the incident and recommended that the families be paid NRs150,000 (US$1,961) each as compensation. Five FIRs were filed in October 2007, but the Dhanusha police reiterated their policy of not acting on conflict-related FIRs.

Update: Advocacy Forum lawyers have been unable to find any evidence of progress in the police files. Despite the recommendation of the NHRC, as of August, 2009, compensation had not been paid. The families have not sought a writ of mandamus fearing that they would then be deprived of the compensation proposed by the NHRC. Their separate application for compensation under the Council of Ministers decision to compensate “conflict victims” has been successful.  They all received R100,000 (US$1,307) as interim relief.

Case 27:

Name: Ramadevi Adhikari

District:  Jhapa

Security forces arrested Ramadevi Adhikari and her husband at their home in Kalimati, Jhapa District, on July 3, 2005. Security forces accused her of giving food to Maoists. Later, Ramadevi was shot and killed. The security forces did not allow the body to be sent for an autopsy. When Ramadevi’s family approached the DPO and DAO to complain, they were spurned on the grounds that it was a “political case.” On November 9, 2006, the Jhapa DPO finally accepted a FIR filed by the relatives, and promised to register it. However, it was not registered.

Update: On April 22, 2009, the victim's husband tried to register the FIR at the DPO Jhapa. Despite the presence of many human rights organizations, the superintendent of police (SP), Bijay Kumar Bhatta, refused to register it.

Bhatta studied the FIR once and gave three reasons for not registering the complaint. He said that there was no autopsy report, that the FIR was being filed too late, and that the police and army were implicated in the complaint. SP Bhatta returned the FIR and told the victim's husband and Advocacy Forum lawyers to seek a court order to file the FIR, which he claimed he would then obey. On June 18, 2009, a petition of mandamus was filed at the Ilam Appellate Court seeking an order for the Jhapa DPO and SP Bhatta to register the FIR. A hearing scheduled on August 11, 2009 could not take place because one of the judges was absent. The hearing was rescheduled for October 12, 2009.

Case 28:

Name:  Hari Prasad Bolakhe

District:  Kavre

Police arrested Hari Prasad on December 27, 2003, at a bus stop in Phulbhari VDC-8, Kavre District. When his father went to the Kavre DPO to complain, the police denied having arrested him. After searching for months, his father complained to the NHRC, which investigated the case and discovered that Hari Prasad had been killed. The investigation led to the exhumation of Hari Prasad’s body, and medical testing of the body revealed the cause of death to be “gunfire injury to the pelvis.” The DPO in Kavre initially refused to register a FIR, and subsequently refused the CDO’s order to accept the complaint, saying that the senior army personnel implicated in the case were still working in the district. The Supreme Court in November 2006 ordered the DPO to register the complaint and to submit the case dossier.

Update: On February 2 and April 28, 2009, the Kavre DPO informed Advocacy Forum lawyers that the original case file had been forwarded to the Supreme Court and Advocacy Forum lawyers are unaware of any further progress in the investigation. Months later, however, the Supreme Court still has not heard the case or issued a writ of mandamus. The next hearing before the Supreme Court is scheduled for November 9, 2009.

Case 29:

Name:  Reena Rasaili

District:  Kavre

On February 12, 2004, armed soldiers raped and killed 18-year-old Reena Rasaili at her family’s home in Pokharichauri VDC-4, Kavre District. The family heard three gunshots and found her body lying near the house with bullet injuries in the head, eye, and chest. The family’s initial complaints to the DPO and CDO were ignored. A March 2004 NHRC investigation concluded that Reena had been illegally killed, recommending a payment of NRs150,000 (US$1,961) in compensation. It also recommended further investigations with a view to bring the perpetrators to justice. A FIR was finally registered on May 25, 2006. The police have received information from the army confirming that the squad of soldiers had been under the command of Saroj Basnet.[35] An application to the Supreme Court for a writ compelling the investigation was filed in October 2007.

Update: The Kavre DPO informed Advocacy Forum lawyers that the original case file had been forwarded to the Supreme Court, and Advocacy Forum lawyers have been unable to find any evidence of progress in the police files.

A Supreme Court hearing scheduled for April 13, 2009 was postponed to August 31, 2009. On August 31, 2009, the court issued an order to the DPO to forward details of investigations conducted so far. The court also allocated priority for the next hearing of the case: once the court receives an answer from the DPO, the case will be put first or second in the list of cases to be heard.

As of September 2009, there had been no action to implement the NHRC recommendations.

Case 30:

Name: Subhadra Chaulagain

District:  Kavre

Soldiers shot and killed 17-year-old Subhadra Chaulagain at her home in Pokharichauri VDC-3, in Kavre District, accusing her of being a Maoist, according to her family who witnessed it. They beat her father severely. When Subhadra’s father made continuous appeals to the DPO, they threatened him with “further action.” The father then brought the case to the NHRC, which recommended a payment of NRs150,000 (US$1,961) in compensation and for those responsible for her killing to be brought to justice. A FIR was registered on June 6, 2006, but the police did not carry out any significant investigation. The family filed a case in the Supreme Court seeking an order against the authorities in Kavre in October 2007.

Update: The Kavre DPO informed Advocacy Forum lawyers that the original case file had been forwarded to the Supreme Court and there was no further progress in the investigation.

A Supreme Court hearing was scheduled on April 13, 2009 but the court ran out of time. At the next hearing on August 31, 2009, the court issued an order to the DPO to forward the details of investigations conducted so far. The court also allocated priority for the next hearing of the case: once the court receives an answer from the DPO, the case will be put first or second in the list of cases to be heard.

No compensation had been paid as of September 2009.

Case 31:

Name:  Maina Sunuwar

District:  Kavre

Soldiers picked up 15-year-old Maina Sunuwar on the morning of February 17, 2004 from her home in Kharelthok VDC-6 in Kavre District. When her friends and relatives went to the Lamidanda barracks the following day and demanded her release, the army denied having arrested her. After weeks of intensive campaigning, in April 2004, the army told Maina’s mother Devi that her daughter had been killed. Under pressure from the international community, the army prosecuted three of the perpetrators in a military court. Although convicted, they were sentenced to only a six months in prison which they did not serve as they were judged to have already spent that time while confined to barracks during the investigation.

Maina’s body was exhumed from inside the Panchkal Army Barracks in March 2007. The Supreme Court later responded to petitions by Maina’s family by ordering the Kavre DPO to initiate investigations. On February 3, 2008, the public prosecutor charged the three soldiers identified in the internal army proceedings (Bobi Khatri, Sunil Prasad Adhikari, and Amit Pun), and a fourth one identified by witnesses, Niranjan Basnet, with the illegal detention, torture, and the murder of Maina Sunuwar.

Update: As per the District Court’s orders, subpoenas were served to the defendants' addresses between March and July 2008, requiring them to appear at court within 70 days. Niranjan Basnet could not be served his subpoena because of a missing signature on the document. A hearing scheduled for December 16, 2008 was postponed due to lack of time, and postponed subsequently due to a general strike in Kavre District.

The hearing rescheduled for February 3, 2009, could not take place because the court clerk provided conflicting information to the public prosecutor and Devi's lawyer about the date.

On February 15, 2009, the court reissued a subpoena to Niranjan Basnet which was duly served on April 27, 2009. The court did not issue any other orders regarding evidence or witnesses for several months. Finally, in a significant ruling on September 13, 2009, the District Court ordered Nepal Army Headquarters to immediately proceed with the automatic suspension of Major Niranjan Basnet (one of the four accused believed to be still serving) and for Army Headquarters to submit all the files containing the statements of the people interviewed by the Military Court of Inquiry.

Case 32:

Name:  Arjun Bahadur Lama

District:  Kavre

Maoists abducted Arjun Bahadur, a secondary school management committee president, on April 19, 2005 from his school in Chhatrebanjh VDC, in Kavre District. According to witnesses, the men reportedly marched Arjun Bahadur through several villages before killing him. Following protests by his wife, the CPN-M claimed that Arjun was killed during a Nepal Army aerial strike. An NHRC investigation concluded Arjun had been detained and deliberately killed. Police in Kavre initially refused to investigate, fearing Maoist reprisals, but eventually responded to a Supreme Court order and filed a FIR on August 11, 2008. Among the six Maoists mentioned as perpetrators in the FIR is Agni Sapkota, a Central Committee member, originally from Sindhupalchowk District, on whose orders Arjun Bahadur Lama was allegedly killed.

Update: On February 4, 2009, Kavre police told Advocacy Forum they had corresponded with the Sindhupalchowk DPO on June 19, 2008, to search for and arrest defendants from that district. The police said that they received a letter from Sindhupalchowk DPO on July 25, stating that Agni Sapkota had not been found in their district. Agni Sapkota is now a member of the Constituent Assembly.

On April 28, 2009, Kavre police told Advocacy Forum, OHCHR-Nepal, and a member of the victim’s family they had taken no further action, but after two hours of dialogue they agreed to write a letter to NHRC requesting help to locate the exact place of burial of Arjun Lama and try to identify witnesses, with technical support from OHCHR if required.

The police questioned some witnesses in May, 2009. On May 4, 2009, the Kavre DPO wrote to the local police post at Foksingtar (the place where the killing allegedly took place) asking them to prepare a report about the incident.

Case 33 and 34:

Name:  Chot Nath Ghimire and Shekhar Nath Ghimire

District:  Lamjung

Soldiers detained Chot Nath Ghimire, a resident of Ishaneshwor VDC-4, Ratmate Majhpokhari, Lamjung District, on February 2, 2002 at Bhorletar Unified Command Base Camp. His cousin, Shekhar Nath, was summoned to the camp on February 7, 2002 and also detained. The police and army, however, denied their detention for years. But acting on information from other detainees, Chota Nath’s family found out that he had been detained at Bhorletar army camp and in November 2006 the NHRC were able to exhume Chot Nath’s body in the jungle at Saura in Hansapur VDC-9. Shekhar Nath’s body was found buried about 20 meters away. The Kaski DPO registered a FIR on November 19, 2006.

Update: As of August 2009, the Kaski DPO had not taken any action on the FIR.

On June 18, 2009, Chot Nath's and Shekhar Nath's families filed separate petitions of mandamus at the Kaski Appellate Court seeking orders for the Kaski DPO and Public Prosecutor’s Office to promptly investigate the FIR. On June 19, the appellate court issued “show cause” orders asking for reasons why the mandamus should not be issued within 15 days. On September 13, the court finally received answers from the respondents. The next hearing is scheduled for October 28, 2009.

The NHRC regional office in Pokhara has informed the family that its investigation into the killing of Chot Nath Ghimire and Shekhar Nath Ghimire is almost completed.

Case 35:

Name:  Prem Bahadur Susling Magar

District:  Morang

Security forces arrested Prem Bahadur Susling Magar, an affiliate of the CPN-M, at Aaitabare VDC, Morang District, on June 29, 2002, and allegedly killed him the next day. His family found out about his death via radio reports and located his body, decomposing in the street, a few days later. Their complaints to the Morang DPO five years later were disregarded by the police superintendent.

Update: The police have not formally registered the FIR. According to officials in the DAO, the copy of the FIR submitted to the CDO has gone missing. The family is considering filing a mandamus petition. The family has recently received NRs100,000 (US$1,307) through the DAO following the August 2008 decision of the Council of Ministers.

Case 36:

Name:  Data Ram Timsina

District:  Morang

On September 28, 2003, officers of the Eastern Regional Army Headquarters in Itahari, and security personnel from Morang DPO arrested schoolteacher Data Ram Timsina. The Morang DPO later informed his family that he was being detained at the Eastern Division Army Headquarters, and an eyewitness saw Data Ram being beaten and removed from the headquarters, and heard that he was to be killed. The Human Rights Cell of the NA later confirmed that Data Ram was “killed in a security operation at Kerabari VDC-5, in Morang District, on October 14, 2003.” The Morang DPO and CDO refused to register the case claiming they had “no authority.” The Biratnagar Appellate Court quashed a mandamus petition on the grounds that killings such as that of Data Ram will be investigated by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Update: An appeal against the decision of the Appellate Court is pending before the Supreme Court. The next hearing is scheduled for September 17, 2009.

Case 37, 38 and 39:

Name:  Bishwanath Parajuli, Tom Nath Poudel, and Dhan Bahadur Tamang

District:  Morang

A group of 50 security personnel arrested Tom Nath Poudel, Bishwanath Parajuli, and Dhan Bahadur Tamang at Bhategauda, of Hasandaha VDC-8, in Morang District, on September 27, 2004. They accused the men of being Maoists and detained them overnight at a nearby school. Other individuals detained at the school later reported hearing gunshots at around 4:45 a.m. that night. The victims’ families visited the school and found that the men had been shot and killed. The families lodged a FIR application with the DAO on November 1, 2004, but no action was taken. An NHRC investigation found they were extrajudicial killings, and recommended the payment of NRs150,000 (US$1,961) and action against those responsible. The Morang DPO and CDO continued to refuse to register an FIR claiming they had no authority to do so. Dhan Bahadur’s family subsequently filed a mandamus petition at the Biratnagar Appellate Court. On October 10, 2007, the court ordered the DPO and CDO to register the FIR, but the DPO and CDO continued to refuse to register the FIR.

Update: On October 15, 2008, all the victims’ families attempted to file FIRs referring to the Appellate Court decision of October 2007, but only the FIR relating to the killing of Dhan Bahadur Tamang was accepted and filed the same day. There is no evidence of police initiating any investigations. On June 18, 2009, Dhan Bahadur Tamang's family filed a petition of mandamus at the Biratnagar Appellate Court seeking an order for the police to promptly start an investigation into the FIR. On June 19, the Appellate Court issued “show cause” orders asking for reasons why mandamus should not be issued. A hearing scheduled for August 10, 2009 was postponed as the court had not received any responses from police. The court has since received a reply from the respondents and the next hearing is scheduled for October 26, 2009.

The FIRs regarding the killings of Bishwanath and Tom Nath are still before the DPO. They have not been formally registered. The families are considering filing a mandamus petition but are awaiting the outcome of other mandamus petitions.

The compensation recommended by the NHRC has not yet been paid.

Case 40, 41, 42 and 43:

Name:  Jag Prasad Rai, Dhananjaya Giri, Madhuram Gautam, and Ratna Bahadur Karki

District:  Morang

According to witnesses, on December 18, 2004 security forces arrested and killed these four men in four separate incidents in Morang District. The Area Police Office in Urlabari notified the victims’ families of the deaths. Relatives found evidence of beatings and torture on the bodies. Their belongings were missing. Police initially refused to register the families’ complaints, claiming that it was a “political issue.” Later, the families attempted to secure justice again, but on June 5, 2007, the DPO in Morang again refused to register a FIR. Despite an appellate court writ compelling an investigation in the case of Madhuram Gautam, the superintendent of police, Yogendra Katuwal, continued to refuse to register the FIR. The court quashed the petition in the three other cases, agreeing with the police’s argument that the TRC will investigate them.

Update: On October 15, 2008, the victims’ families once again attempted to file FIRs. Police only accepted the FIR relating to the case of Madhuram Gautam, where there was a court order.

On June 18, 2009, Madhuram Gautam’s family filed a petition of mandamus at the Biratnagar Appellate Court seeking an order for the police to promptly start an investigation into the FIR. On June 19, the Appellate Court issued show cause orders asking for reasons why mandamus should not be issued. A hearing scheduled for August 10, 2009 was postponed as the court had not received any responses. The court has since received a response from the respondent and the next hearing is scheduled for October 21, 2009.

In the case of Dhananjaya Giri, the family has lodged an appeal against the decision of the Appellate Court to quash the case. The appeal is pending before the Supreme Court.

The FIRs regarding the killings of Jag Prasad Rai and Ratna Bahadur Karki have been before the Chief District Officer, but Advocacy Forum lawyers have been unable to find any evidence that action has been taken. Their families have not filed mandamus petitions to date because they want to see the outcome in other cases.

All families have recently received money from the CDO office as per the August 2008 decision of the Council of Ministers.

Case 44:

Name:  Chandra Bahadur Basnet (“Manoj Basnet”)

District:  Morang

On August 24, 2005, a group of APF personnel arrested Chandra Bahadur Basnet at Dhankute Hotel, in Biratnagar. They put him in a vehicle blindfolded, and drove away. The next day, the Morang DPO informed Manoj’s family that he had been killed while trying to run away from a “security cordon.” His body, with all valuables removed, was handed over to his family in Biratnagar the next day. A post-mortem revealed that he had been shot in the chest and neck.

As a result of NHRC and OHCHR investigations, the APF claimed to have taken action against Nardip Basnet (the commander of the APF unit allegedly involved in the killing). But the action apparently was merely transferring him out of the district.

Under considerable pressure, the DPO in Morang filed a FIR on August 30, 2005 and agreed to initiate an investigation. The police then got Chandra’s father to sign a new FIR terming the killing an accident without allowing him the time to read it in detail. The District Court agreed with this FIR, ruling that the killing was accidental. Chandra’s father then appealed to the Supreme Court. After this, a number of local political actors and police officers attempted to bribe the father with large sums of money and job offers. On November 30, 2007, he acceded to this pressure and asked the court to withdraw the case. On the same day, the Supreme Court decided to put the case on hold.

Update: In response to the father’s request to the Supreme Court to withdraw the case, Advocacy Forum filed a petition to resume the hearing claiming that it was a public interest issue. A judicial bench of Kalyan Shrestha and Krishna Upadhyay quashed the petition on May 4, 2009, bringing the case to an end.

Case 45 and 46:

Name:  Purna Shrestha and Bidur Bhattarai

District:  Morang

According to witnesses, army personnel tricked Purna Shrestha and Bidur Bhattarai into coming to Belbari VDC on October 15, 2005 by calling them from the mobile phone belonging to one of their friends. They then arrested both men, tortured them, and shot them dead at around 9:30 am. The army then informed family members that the men had been killed during an army operation. The families and other villagers found torture-related wounds on the bodies although they were not able to obtain copies of the post-mortem reports.

The NHRC recommended a compensation of NRs150,000 (US$1,961) each and said that those responsible should be identified and brought to justice. The government is yet to act on these recommendations. During June and July of 2007, the Morang DPO and CDO both refused to register a FIR. The Appellate Court in Biratnagar refused a petition on behalf of Bidur, but ordered the DPO to register a FIR in the case of Purna. Police Superintendent Yogendra Katuwal refused to register the FIR.

Update: On October 15, 2008, the victims’ families once again attempted to file FIRs. Police only accepted the FIR relating to Purna Shrestha. On June 18, 2009, Purna Shrestha's family filed a petition of mandamus at the Biratnagar Appellate Court seeking an order for the police to promptly start an investigation into the FIR. The court issued a “show cause” notice on June 19, 2009. A hearing was scheduled for August 10, 2009. As of mid-September 2009, the court had not yet received replies from the respondents.

In the case of Bidur Bhattarai, the family has appealed to the Supreme Court against the decision of the Appellate Court. The case is pending before the Supreme Court.

Case 47:

Name:  Sapana Gurung

District:  Morang

15 security personnel under the command of army Captain Prahlad Thapa Magar arrested 22-year-old Sapana Gurung at her home in Belbari VDC-3, Morang District, on April 25, 2006. The men took her to a nearby Nepal Telecommunications Office and raped her. About an hour after the arrest, villagers heard a gunshot, and Sapana was later found dead. A medical report stated that she had been raped and killed. The police quickly registered a FIR, but waited for governmental authorization before investigating. A Parliamentary Probe Committee recommended that Prahlad Thapa Magar, Bir Bahadur Mahara, and Nirmal Kumar Panta be taken into custody and that a criminal investigation be initiated. The Committee also recommended NRs 1 million (US$13,070) compensation for the family and departmental action against those responsible under the Army Act. The government earlier had paid NRs300,000 (US$3,922) to the family.

Update: Advocacy Forum lawyers have been unable to find any evidence of progress in the police investigations. The police claim that the file has not been returned by the Parliamentary Probe Committee. As of August 2009, the soldiers had not been arrested. There were unconfirmed reports that the army had brought the three soldiers before a military court. The compensation recommended by the Parliamentary Committee has not been paid.

Case 48, 49, 50, 51, 5 and 53:

Name:  Chhatra Bahadur Pariyar, Phurwa Sherpa, Prabhunath Bhattarai, Prasad Gurung, Tanka Lal Chaudhari, and Sunita Risidev

District:  Morang

On April 26, 2006 a group of security personnel opened fire on people demonstrating against the killing of Sapana Gurung (described above) outside the area police office in Belbari. The six individuals named above were killed, and dozens were injured. The Morang DPO initially refused to file FIRs. When the Belbari area police filed FIRs, they argued that they could not initiate criminal investigations until the government had authorized such action. A Parliamentary Probe Committee recommended action against 28 security force personnel (including the head of the brigade and the chief of Belbari police), and the CDO. It also recommended NRs 1 million (US$13,070) each to the families of those killed and smaller amounts for those injured. Earlier, the government had already provided NRs300,000 (US$3,922) to the families of those killed, and smaller amounts for those injured.

Update: Advocacy Forum lawyers have been unable to find any evidence of progress in the police investigations. The police claim that the file has not been returned by the Parliamentary Probe Committee.

Case 54:

Name:  Khagendra Buddhathoki

District:  Myagdi

A team of patrolling soldiers arrested Khagendra Buddhathoki on the Tatopani Jalkuni Bridge near Aman VDC-6, Pok, Myagdi District, on January 6, 2002. According to villagers, they took him to a temporary army camp at Alkachaur was and shot him dead the following day. When family members approached the Myagdi DPO, they refused to investigate. Once the battalion moved from the temporary camp, Khagendra’s family exhumed his body from inside its premises. Almost five years after the initial complaints, police filed a FIR on April 12, 2007.

Update: Police told Advocacy Forum in April 2009 that they had corresponded with the Ministry of Defense regarding the deployment of Raju Nepali, in charge of Kaliprasad battalion which had been stationed in Myagdi at the time. The Ministry reportedly confirmed his deployment in a letter to the police, though the family has not seen a copy of the letter.

As there was no progress in the investigations, the victim's family filed for a writ of mandamus at the Baglung Appellate Court on June 18, 2009, seeking prompt police investigation into the FIR. In its response to the “show cause” notice from the court, the DPO stated that the FIR had been improperly filed—asserting that it was not recorded in a No.10 diary as it should have been but in a general diary that records the letters and documents the DPO receives. On this basis, the DPO argued that it was not bound to investigate the case. The DPO also argued that the civilian court had no jurisdiction because the case is from the conflict period when the army was mobilized and because the killings took place during crossfire. The next hearing scheduled for September 7, 2009, was postponed without reason until October 14, 2009.

Case 55:

Name:  Chandra Bahadur B.K

District:  Myagdi

Soldiers arrested 17-year-old Chandra Bahadur B.K. at his home in Kasebagar, Arman VDC-6, Myagdi District, on January 8, 2003 on suspicion of being a Maoist. Three days later, Radio Nepal reported that Chandra had been killed in an “encounter” in Baglung District. His family was allowed to recover his body from within the army base, but they were compelled to bury it almost immediately. The CDO assured the family that he would initiate an investigation, but no action was taken. The Baglung DPO filed a FIR on April 12, 2007.

Update: The family filed a mandamus petition on June 18, 2009. The DPO provided the same responses as in Case 54 above, claiming that the case was improperly filed and asserting that the civilian court lacked jurisdiction.

Case 56, 57 and 58:

Name:  Dal Bahadur Darlami, Narayan Prasad Kanuje, and Tek Bahadur Gaha

District:  Palpa

According to eye-witnesses, soldiers indiscriminately fired upon and killed the three above-named boys, aged 15, 16, and 15, respectively. The boys had been stopping vehicles along the road at a place called Dhaireni, of Chidpani VDC-1, in Palpa, on March 22, 2005, collecting money for Holi festival celebrations the next day. The DPO did not register a FIR when initially approached by the victims’ families, instead ruling the incident to be an accident. Later, when approached again by the families and NGOs, the Palpa DPO refused to register a FIR. After substantial agitation, the District Public Prosecutor’s Office in late 2006 ordered the DPO to proceed with a murder investigation. In January 2007, after the police sent a report to the District Public Prosecutor, he directed the police to proceed with murder investigations. He also directed the DPO to obtain copies of the post-mortem reports.

Update: Almost no progress has been made on the investigation since January 2007. 

On June 18, 2009, the victims' families filed separate petitions of mandamus at the Butwal Appellate Court seeking orders for the police to promptly proceed with investigations into the FIRs that had been registered. The respondents have replied to the court’s “show cause” notice, though so far Advocacy Forum lawyers have not been able to see the replies. A next hearing was scheduled for August 18, 2009 but it was postponed on request of the Government Attorney. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for October 7, 2009.

Case 59:

Name:  Man Bahadur Karki

District:  Surkhet

Two Maoists named Lal Bahadur Ramjali and Dilip abducted Man Bahadur from his house in Lekhgaun VDC-4, Surkhet District, on June 10, 2006. The next day, Man’s body was found hanging outside the house of another villager, Ratan Bahadur Gautam. The Maoists claimed that he had committed suicide. Reports in the media and information from two witnesses suggested that Kul Bahadur Sijali, another local resident, had a feud with Man and had participated in his beating and killing. Witnesses indicated that Man had actually been beaten to death by Kul Bahadur, Ratan Bahadur, Meghraj Gautam, and Yam Bahadur Gharti. In September 2006, the DPO refused to file a FIR, and the family received threats from the Maoists.

Update: As far as Advocacy Forum is aware, there has been no progress in the investigation. The FIR has still not been registered. For reasons that remain unclear, the victim’s family did not contact Advocacy Forum again and have showed no further interest in pursuing the case.

Case 60 and 61:

Name:  Ganga Bahadur Nepali and Shyam Sundar Kaini

District:  Tanahun

Army personnel arrested Ganga Bahadur Nepali and Shyam Sundar Kaini from their homes in Ghansikuwa VDC-3, and Byas Municipality-3, in Tanahun District, on April 29, 2002. The next morning, Radio Nepal reported that the two men were terrorists who had been planning to ambush security forces and had been killed as they were attempting to execute this plan. Army Major Baburam Shrestha refused to hand over the bodies initially, only doing so after being pressured by the CPN-UML general secretary. The general secretary released a statement indicating that he had heard testimony from soldiers at the barracks to the effect that the two men were arrested and executed. The police registered two FIRs on April 6, 2007.

Update: The families are not aware of anyserious investigation after the filing of the FIR. On June 18, 2009, the wives of Ganga Bahadur Nepali and Shyam Sundar Kaini lodged separate petitions of mandamus at the Kaski Appellate Court seeking an order for the Tanahun DPO and Public Prosecutor's Office to promptly start investigations into the FIRs that were registered on April 6, 2007. On June 19, 2009, the court issued “show cause” notices to the DPO and district public prosecutor asking them to respond within 15 days. On September 13, 2009, the court received a reply from the respondents. A hearing on the mandamus petition is now scheduled for October 28, 2009.

The NHRC has found that a violation of the right to life was committed by security forces deputed from Damauli Barracks under the command of Damodar Adhikari. The Commission has written to the Ministry of Defense requesting that it produce Damodar Adhikari before the NHRC to record his statement. It has also made a recommendation that the government provide Rs. 300,000 to the immediate family of the victim. Jyoti Prasad Ghimire, a protection officer at NHRC, told Advocacy Forum lawyers on September 23, 2009, that the NHRC took these steps some four or five months back.

Case 62:

Name:  Dhan Kumari Tumbahamphe

District:  Udayapur

Soldiers arrested Dhan Kumari Tumbahamphe after she attempted to escape an army cordon at Mainamaini village, Udayapur District, on April 24, 2005. The soldiers found some CPN-M documents in her bag. According to witnesses, the following morning, at Mainamaini VDC-9, a group of soldiers marched her out to a hill, possibly raped her, mutilated her, and killed her. The Udayapur DPO refused to file a FIR when initially approached by the family. The NHRC began an investigation in May 2005, after the family registered a complaint. After significant resistance by the DPO, the family petitioned the Appellate Court in Rajbiraj for an order to register the FIR. The order was given on August 18, 2008.

Update: As of September, the police had still not filed the FIR. On August 10, 2009, the DPO, Udayapur, took statements from Dambar Bahadur Tumbahamphe, Birkha Bahadur Rai, and Thamadhwoj Rai, three witnesses. On August 11, 2009, the DPO took the statement of Kamal Bahadur Rai and Ram Kumar Rai, two further witnesses.

Having taken the statements of these victims, Sub-Inspector of Police Badan Bahadur Shrestha informed Advocacy Forum that the DPO would write to the Area Police Post, Thoksila, and direct staff there to conduct a field inquiry and prepare a scene report. After that, the DPO would consider registering the FIR. It is unusual for the police to take witness statements before filing an FIR.

According to an official in the NHRC regional office, Biratnagar, the commission has visited the scene, interviewed the victims, collected other evidence, and is very close to completing its investigation.[36]