By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Feb. 21: The National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) has expressed grave concern over the incident of Guthichaur Rural Municipality in Jumla district, where a 13-year-old Padam Buda was allegedly beaten to death by the police.
Issuing a statement here on Friday, NHRC said the Karnali provincial office of the commission has been monitoring the incident.
According to the statement, the monitoring team of the commission reached the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS), Jumla, observed the body kept in the Incentive Care Unit (ICU) and received information about the incident from the police inspector of District Police Office, Jumla.
The police arrested seven individuals, including the boy, on charge of stealing a mobile phone on February 17, the NHRC said in its statement.
The statement reads, “The body was released on the same day after being beaten with the pipe during the interrogation. During the monitoring, it is learned that Buda had bruises on his left leg and ankles and his leg was swollen. He died the same day while undergoing treatment.”
The provincial office of NHRC, Jumla has written to the District Police Office for autopsy as soon as possible by a specialist doctor and the KAHS to manage the body at a suitable place, since the body of the boy has remained in the ICU for the last two days.
The statement further reads, “Article 6 of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1898, of which Nepal is a state party, guarantees rights to life of every child, and Article 37 states that no child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Similarly, Section 4 (e) of the Juvenile Justice Procedure Rules, 2063 B.S. has made provision for immediate physical and mental health check-up by nearest government hospital or doctor after arresting a child for any offence, the NHRC added.
Drawing attention of the government towards the international and national laws on the child rights, the commission has urged the government to conduct an impartial and credible investigation into the incident and bring the culprit to justice.
The commission further asked the state to manage the body of the boy in an appropriate place in the ICU, conduct an autopsy by a specialist as soon as possible and provide protection and appropriate compensation to the victim’s family.