Nepal: Adding Insult to Injury

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On October 8, 2003, 24-year-old Sanjeev Kumar Karna (top, center) was arrested in a police raid along with four other friends from Kataaiyachauri, in the outskirts of Janakpur city for allegedly being involved in Maoist activities. A few days later, along with four other friends, he was allegedly shot dead by police forces. The Nepal Army later issued a letter saying all five had been killed in “police action.” © 2010 Nayan Tara Gurung Kakshapati /Amnesty International 284538
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Citizenship cards belonging to Jai Kishor Labh (top) and Sanjeev Kumar Kama (bottom), now both dead. Sanjeev and fourth other friends were arrested on October 8, 2003 in a police raid for allegedly being involved in Maoist activities. A few days later, along with four other friends, he was allegedly shot dead by police forces. The Nepal Army later issued a letter saying all five had been killed in “police action.” © 2010 Nayan Tara Gurung Kakshapati /Amnesty International 284538
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Human rights activist Jay Kishor Labh (seen far left holding banner), father of Sanjeev Kumar Karna and lawyer by profession, campaigned relentlessly to push national and international rights organizations to fight for his son’s case. He spent long hours at the neighborhood cyber café, doing research and writing emails, and traveled extensively to campaign for his son’s case. After a long seven-year battle, Jai Kishor died of a heart attack. His wife Bimala and younger son Rajeev survive him. © 2010 Nayan Tara Gurung Kakshapati /Amnesty International 284538
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Purnamaya Lama holds a photo of her husband, Arjun Bahadur Lama. In April 2005, Arjun was celebrating his election as president of the Shree Krishna Secondary School at the school’s premises in the Chhatrebanjh Village Development Committee (VDC). Maoists Yadav Poudel and Karnakhar Gautam stormed into the ceremony and abducted Arjun. In late June 2005, several witnesses told the family how Maoist cadres took Arjun to Buddhakani VDC, where they killed him. © 2007 Charu Lata Hogg 284538
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Karna Bahadur Rasili, father of Reena Rasaili. In 2004, Reena and her family were woken up by a knock at their door. Ten fully armed men dressed in civilian clothes broke the door down and entered the house claiming to be soldiers from Bhakundebesi. The soldiers beat up Reena’s parents and dragged her out of bed, accusing her of being a Maoist. They dragged Reena to the cowshed and raped her through the night. She was shot in the head, eye, and chest. © 2007 Nick Hogg 284538
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Devi Sunawar and her husband Purna Bahadur hold a photograph of their daughter Maina. In February 2004, 15 personnel arrived at Maina Sunuwar’s house. They said they were looking for her mother Devi Sunuwar but since Devi was not in the house, they took Maina away in her place. Officials denied any involvement in her arrest. In April 2004, Maina’s mother visited the Nepal Army Headquarters in Kathmandu where she was told that Maina had been killed. © 2007 Nick Hogg 284538
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Last known address where Yasoda Sharma saw her husband, Surya Prasad Sharma. Surya Prasad was a Maoist supporter and went underground after the “people’s war” was declared in 1996. The army arrested Surya Prasad in January 2002 when he was visiting his family. Yasoda saw him being led into the nearby army camp from her window. He disappeared nearly 10 years ago. © 2011 Advocacy Forum 284538
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Surya Prasad Sharma was a Maoist supporter and arrested by the army in January 2002. Though there were considerable discrepancies in multiple government branches’ response to his wife, Yasoda’s, habeas corpus petition, the Chief District Officer responded that records indicate Sharma was arrested by security forces, had escaped while being taken out of the camp by patrol and jumped into a river from which he did not emerge. He disappeared nearly 10 years ago. © Advocacy Forum 284538
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Surya Prasad Sharma, a Maoist supporter, and his wife Yasoda before his disappearance nearly 10 years ago. Chief District Officer records claim Sharma was arrested by security forces, had escaped while being taken out of the camp by patrol and jumped into a river from which he did not emerge. © Advocacy Forum 284538
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Photograph of the victim, Sahid Ullah Dewan. On October 26, 2009, eyewitnesses saw three policemen kill Sahid Ullah, age 29, in broad daylight in Rupandehi District. The killing occurred in the context of police crackdowns in response to criminal activities by armed groups in the southern plains of Terai, bordering India. It is not known whether Sahid Ullah was a member of any armed gangs, but he was unarmed at the time of his arrest. © Advocacy Forum 284538
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Sahid Ullah Dewan’s father, mother, wife, and son. On October 26, 2009, eyewitnesses saw three policemen kill Sahid Ullah, age 29, in broad daylight in Rupandehi District. When Sahid’s father, Abdul Majid, tried to file a report, the police refused to register the complaint maintaining that the victim was killed during crossfire. Even after an Appellate Courter ordered police to file the complaint and step up investigation, the public prosecutor nevertheless failed to file court proceedings in the case. © 2011 Advocacy Forum 284538
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Sahid Ullah Dewan’s jacket with bullet holes. On October 26, 2009, eyewitnesses saw three policemen kill Sahid Ullah, age 29, in broad daylight in Rupandehi District. The killing occurred in the context of police crackdowns in response to criminal activities by armed groups in the southern plains of Terai, bordering India. It is not known whether Sahid Ullah was a member of any armed gangs, but he was unarmed at the time of his arrest. © 2011 Advocacy Forum 284538
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Sahid Ullah Dewan’s wife and infant son outside the family home after his disappearance. On October 26, 2009, eyewitnesses saw three policemen kill Sahid Ullah, age 29, in broad daylight in Rupandehi District. The killing occurred in the context of police crackdowns in response to criminal activities by armed groups in the southern plains of Terai, bordering India. It is not known whether Sahid Ullah was a member of any armed gangs, but he was unarmed at the time of his arrest. © 2011 Advocacy Forum 284538
Five years after the end of Nepal’s civil war, victims on both sides of the conflict are still waiting for justice. Human Rights Watch and Advocacy Forum have found that families of those killed or disappeared have fought hard to obtain justice, but not a single perpetrator has been successfully prosecuted for serious abuses in a civilian court. Evidence shows that police face intense pressure from senior government officials, political parties, and the Nepal army to obstruct justice, ignore supreme court rulings and evade prosecution. In the absence of a robust legal system that would force compliance, perpetrators of human rights violations continue to enjoy impunity.
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