Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (THRDA). They stated that police used excessive force against secondary school students in the Marchawar area of Rupandehi district, Nepal. Now the students are living in fear, with many leaving for India, due to mass arrests and security concerns.
CASE DETAILS:
The AHRC has received information that police used excessive force on secondary school students on 18 February 2017 in the Marchawar area of Rupandehi district. There was a mass meeting in Majagawa of Marchawar, Rupandehi on 18 February 2017. Rajesh Barai, a grade 12 student of Janta Higher Secondary School, Udawaliya, was arrested by the police. He was on his way to view the mass meeting organized by Dr. C.K Raut supporters.
To protest the arrest of their schoolmate, some 500 students gathered in front of the Bagauli police station on 19 February. They shouted slogans against his arrest. After the protest, the students began returning home. One hundred policemen, attached to the Area Police Office Marchawar and Armed Police Force, Marchawar, followed behind the students. They started beating and thrashing them. In retaliation, students marching in the front rows, pelted stones at the police.
During the clash, 5-7 police officers sustained injuries after baton-charging the protesters. The following students–Nirmala Singh, Sambhawati Yadav, Seshelta Gosai, Rahul Yadav, Krishna Harijan, Poonam Maurya, Sarswoti Maurya and Laxmi Maurya were injured in the encounter. Harijan Lal, a grade 6 pupil is missing. The Nepal Police arrested local shopkeepers Ramniwas Jaiswal, Barber Jogindra Thakur and a chemist, Shyam Prasad Gupta, for selling medicine and providing physical care for the injured.
Shivdhani Pasi, Indresh Ansari, Makbul Ansari and Chiri Yadav, were arrested by police and then physically tortured. Bikash Prasad Lodh, Ram Kumar Kewat, Shailendra Baniya, Jitendra Yadav and Rajesh Barai were arrested and illegally detained. Two students, Sarswoti Malah and Gita Pasi were injured. Two Indian citizens, Ram Shuvam Pal and Rajanath Pal who came to Marchawar to attend a social function were arrested. Manoj Kumar Yadav, an in-charge health professional was arrested. Police dispersed the crowd protesting in front of the Udwaliya police station after being pelted with stones for 15 minutes. They fired two shots in the air and used 15 tear gas canisters to break up the protestors. According to the local people, more than 20 persons were arrested and 50 persons were injured.
The AHRC urges the Government to: investigate the excessive use of force, punish the police officers involved in the brutal crackdown on students, provide treatment for the injured and release those still kept under illegal detention. The AHRC requests that all stakeholders take the necessary safety measures to prevent this kind of behavior in future. The AHRC further calls on all the participants to take their part in maintaining peace in the Marchawar area.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the relevant authorities. Call on them to take the necessary action against the police for their brutality to students protesting the arrest of their classmate. The police officers need to be suspended with legal action taken against them after a proper investigation.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
NEPAL: Police use excessive force on secondary school students
Name of victims: Students of Janta Higher Secondary School, Rupandehi district
Alleged Perpetrators: Police officers attached to the Area Police Office, Marchawar and Armed Police Force Marchawar, Rupandehi district
Date of incident: 18 February 2017 to the present
Place of incident: Marchawar Area of Rupandehi district, Nepal
I am writing to voice my deep concern as police used excessive force against secondary school students in the Marchawar area of Rupandehi district, Nepal. Now the students are living in fear, with many leaving for India, due to mass arrests and security concerns.
There was a mass meeting in Majagawa of Marchawar, Rupandehi on 18 February 2017. Rajesh Barai, a grade 12 student of Janta Higher Secondary School, Udawaliya, was arrested by the police. He was on his way to view the mass meeting organized by Dr. C.K Raut supporters.
To protest the arrest of their schoolmate, some 500 students gathered in front of the Bagauli police station on 19 February. They shouted slogans against his arrest. After the protest, the students began returning home. One hundred policemen, attached to the Area Police Office Marchawar and Armed Police Force, Marchawar, followed behind the students. They started beating and thrashing them. In retaliation, students marching in the front rows, pelted stones at the police.
During the clash, 5-7 police officers sustained injuries after baton-charging the protesters. The following students–Nirmala Singh, Sambhawati Yadav, Seshelta Gosai, Rahul Yadav, Krishna Harijan, Poonam Maurya, Sarswoti Maurya and Laxmi Maurya were injured in the encounter. Harijan Lal, a grade 6 pupil is missing. The Nepal Police arrested local shopkeepers Ramniwas Jaiswal, Barber Jogindra Thakur and a chemist, Shyam Prasad Gupta, for selling medicine and providing physical care for the injured.
Shivdhani Pasi, Indresh Ansari, Makbul Ansari and Chiri Yadav, were arrested by police and then physically tortured. Bikash Prasad Lodh, Ram Kumar Kewat, Shailendra Baniya, Jitendra Yadav and Rajesh Barai were arrested and illegally detained. Two students, Sarswoti Malah and Gita Pasi were injured. Two Indian citizens, Ram Shuvam Pal and Rajanath Pal who came to Marchawar to attend a social function were arrested. Manoj Kumar Yadav, an in-charge health professional was arrested. Police dispersed the crowd protesting in front of the Udwaliya police station after being pelted with stones for 15 minutes. They fired two shots in the air and used 15 tear gas canisters to break up the protestors. According to the local people, more than 20 persons were arrested and 50 persons were injured.
I urge the Government to: investigate the excessive use of force, punish the police officers involved in the brutal crackdown on students, provide treatment for the injured and release those still kept under illegal detention. I request that all stakeholders take the necessary safety measures to prevent this kind of behavior in future. I further call on all the participants to take their part in maintaining peace in the Marchawar area.
I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
- Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘ Prachanda’
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. Bimalendra Nidhi
Home Minister of Nepal
Ministry of Home Affairs
Singh Durbar, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 421-1257, 421-1286
Email: gunaso@moha.gov.np
3. 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
4. Mr. Raman Kumar Shrestha
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
5. Dr. Dinesh Chandra Pokharel
Acting 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 Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (ua@ahrc.asia)
