Dear Friends,
The Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (THRDA) has informed the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) about the following teenager. She is Muni Paswan Das, the 15-year-old daughter of Bhusan Paswan Das. Her father is a Priest at the Bhutan Devi Mai Temple in Ward 16 of Nagawa Birgunj Metropolitan City. The young girl has become a victim of the reckless actions of a Policeman on duty. This incident took place on 21 January 2018 while Muni was attending to some work near their cowshed. She was struck by a Police Officer with a bamboo stick resulting in serious injury to her left eye with possible total loss of vision and surgical extraction.
CASE NARRATIVE:
Muni Paswan Das was attending to some work near their cowshed at around 11 am on 21 January 2018. It is located near the Temple where her father is a serving Priest. Police Officer Dipendra Jha from the Area Police Office Nagawa appeared suddenly and started beating a group of drug users with a bamboo stick. Officer Jha ended up hitting Muni who sustained serious injury to her left eye.
Instead of taking Muni to a hospital, Officer Jha fled the scene. Muni’s father took her to Narayani Sub-Regional Hospital for treatment. However, because of the extensive damage requiring specialized care, the Hospital referred her to the Kedia Eye Hospital in Parwanipur. The eye had been injured to such a degree that the Doctors suggested removing it.
Immediately after the assault, Officer Dipendra Jha hurried to the District Police Station in Parsa. He requested 10 days leave of absence from his work. To present his side of the story, Police Constable Ran Bahadur Bam talked with Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajan Limbu who as a result cancelled his leave.
The Police tried to hush-up the incident. It seems certain that Muni will lose her eyesight and perhaps her left eye will have to be surgically taken out. The Police Officer must assume responsibility for his own personal negligent action in carrying out his duties while the Police as Institution must see that justice is done in this case.
The AHRC urges the Police to suspend Officer Dipendra Jha and start a prompt and thorough investigation into this case. Police must offer to cover the cost of medical expenses incurred by this innocent victim. As her future has become bleak, Muni must humanely be provided with appropriate and adequate compensation for her damaged eye.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the following Authorities, calling on them to take the necessary action against the Police Officer involved in this incident. He should be suspended immediately, after which a prompt and comprehensive investigation should be initiated.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, requesting her intervention in this case.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
NEPAL: Reckless Police Officer Causes a Minor to Lose Her Eyesight
Name of victim: 15-year-old Muni Paswan Das
Name of alleged perpetrator: Police Officer Dipendra Jha from the Area Police Station in Nagawa
Date of incident: 21 January 2018 to the present
Place of incident: Bhutan Devi Mai Temple located in Ward 16 of Nagawa Birgunj Metropolitan City
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding a teenager named Muni Paswan Das, the 15-year-old daughter of Bhusan Paswan Das. Her father is a Priest at the Bhutan Devi Mai Temple in Ward 16 of Nagawa Birgunj Metropolitan City. The young girl has become a victim of the reckless actions of a Policeman on duty.
Muni Paswan Das was attending to some work near their cowshed at around 11 am on 21 January 2018. It is located near the Temple where her father is a serving Priest. Police Officer Dipendra Jha from the Area Police Office Nagawa appeared suddenly and started beating a group of drug users with a bamboo stick. Officer Jha ended up hitting Muni who sustained serious injury to her left eye.
Instead of taking Muni to a hospital, Officer Jha fled the scene. Muni’s father took her to Narayani Sub-Regional Hospital for treatment. However, because of the extensive damage requiring specialized care, the Hospital referred her to the Kedia Eye Hospital in Parwanipur. The eye had been injured to such a degree that the Doctors suggested removing it.
Immediately after the assault, Officer Dipendra Jha hurried to the District Police Station in Parsa. He requested 10 days leave of absence from his work. To present his side of the story, Police Constable Ran Bahadur Bam talked with Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajan Limbu who as a result cancelled his leave.
The Police tried to hush-up the incident. It seems certain that Muni will lose her eyesight and perhaps her left eye will have to be surgically taken out. The Police Officer must assume responsibility for his own personal negligent action in carrying out his duties while the Police as Institution must see that justice is done in this case.
I urge the Police to suspend Officer Dipendra Jha and start a prompt and thorough investigation into this case. Police must offer to cover the cost of medical expenses incurred by this innocent victim. As her future has become bleak, Muni must humanely be provided with appropriate and adequate compensation for her damaged eye.
I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
……………….
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. Sher Bahadur Deuba
Home Minister
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. Basanta 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
5. 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
6. Mr. Sitaram Ghale
Member Secretary
National Dalit Commission
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 5531148
Phone: +977 1 5531148
Email: info@ndc.gov.np
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Program
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
