Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (THRDA) that traffic police officers attached with the Lahan District Traffic Office thrashed Mr. Dhananjaya Yadav for failing to stop his motorcycle near them. Yadav was beaten for nearly 30 minutes. This incident is indicative of the increasing police highhandedness in Nepal’s Tarai region recently.
CASE DETAILS:
On 19 November 2017, Mr. Dhananjaya Yadav, who works as a Lab Assistant at the Lila Madan Polyclinic, was driving to the branch office of Kamana Nursing Home on his motorcycle at 9 a.m. When he reached the Lahan District Traffic Office, the traffic police officers signaled him to stop. Although Dhananjaya hit the brakes, the motorcycle stopped a little away from the officers. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Lok Bahadur Diyali abruptly took out the motorcycle keys.
When Dhananjaya protested and demanded his keys back, one of the officers grabbed his collar and started beating him. He was then taken inside the cabin of the Inspector of Police. Several officers including the Assistant Sub-Inspector, thrashed him with bamboo sticks, and punched and kicked him. The assault went on for almost half an hour.
Dhananjaya has sustained a cut below his right eye and it has turned black. Blood also came out of his nose. He went to Lila Madan Polyclinic at around 11 am, and has been receiving treatment for his injuries.
While the National Human Rights Commission has started investigating this case, police highhandedness has increased in Tarai in recent days. The AHRC requests the Government of Nepal to promptly look into this incident. The involved traffic police officers must be suspended from active duty during the investigation, and if found guilty, they must face stringent punishment. Only such strict action will deter other police officers from engaging in such actions.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the following authorities, calling on them to take all necessary steps to ensure justice in this case. The AHRC will write a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment calling for his intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
NEPAL: Police thrash man over minor infringement
Name of victims: 37-year-old Dhananjaya Yadav
Alleged Perpetrators: Assistant Sub-Inspector Lok Bahadur Diyali and other traffic officers attached with the Lahan District Traffic Office
Date of incident: 19 November 2017 to the present
Place of incident: Outside Lahan District Traffic Office, Siraha District
I am writing to voice my deep concern as traffic police officers attached with the Lahan District Traffic Office thrashed Mr. Dhananjaya Yadav for failing to stop his motorcycle near them.
On 19 November 2017, Mr. Dhananjaya Yadav, who works as a Lab Assistant at the Lila Madan Polyclinic, was driving to the branch office of Kamana Nursing Home on his motorcycle at 9 a.m. When he reached the Lahan District Traffic Office, the traffic police officers signaled him to stop. Although Dhananjaya hit the brakes, the motorcycle stopped a little away from the officers. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Lok Bahadur Diyali abruptly took out the motorcycle keys.
When Dhananjaya protested and demanded his keys back, one of the officers grabbed his collar and started beating him. He was then taken inside the cabin of the Inspector of Police. Several officers including the Assistant Sub-Inspector, thrashed him with bamboo sticks, and punched and kicked him. The assault went on for almost half an hour.
Dhananjaya has sustained a cut below his right eye and it has turned black. Blood also came out of his nose. He went to Lila Madan Polyclinic at around 11 am, and has been receiving treatment for his injuries.
While the National Human Rights Commission has started investigating this case, police highhandedness has increased in Tarai in recent days. I request the Government of Nepal to promptly look into this incident. The involved traffic police officers must be suspended from active duty during the investigation, and if found guilty, they must face stringent punishment. Only such strict action will deter other police officers from engaging in such actions.
I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1.Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers of Nepal
Singh Durbar, Kathmandu
P.O. Box: 23312
NEPAL
Tel: +977 1 4211000
Fax: +977 1 4211086
Email: info@opmcm.gov.np
2. Mr. Anupraj Sharma
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Pulchowk, Lalitpur
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 55 47973
Tel: +977 1 5010015
E-mail: complaints@nhrcnepal.org or nhrc@nhrcnepal.org
3. Mr. Basant Ram Bhandari
Attorney General
Office of Attorney General
Ramshah Path, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Tel: +977 1 4240210, +977 1 4262548, +977 1 4262394
Fax: +977 1 4262582 / 4218051
Email: info@attorneygeneral.gov.np
4. Mr. Prakash Aryal
Inspector General of Police
Police Head Quarters
Naxal, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 4415593
Tel: +977 1 4412432
Email: phqigs@nepalpolice.gov.np
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
