As per INSEC, significant concern has been raised regarding the successive incidents of police brutality taking place in Madhesh province.

On the afternoon of July 31, an incident occurred at the district police office in Saptari where ASI Rajeshwar Mahato, assaulted Manohar Kumar Pokharel, the district representative of INSEC. Pokharel had gone to the office to provide assistance to victims of human rights abuses. This event once again highlights the ongoing issue of police brutality.

According to the victim, when Pokharel went to the district police office in Rajbiraj from Lahan, Siraha to assist the locals to register a complaint, ASI Mahato physically assaulted him. Pokharel sustained injuries to his eyes and sensitive body parts and is currently receiving treatment at Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital in Rajbiraj.

We strongly appeal to the government to take necessary action against the police officer involved. Both the officer and the police office have the responsibility to maintain peace, provide security, and uphold human rights. However, a human rights defender and a journalist was assaulted within the premises, which demands immediate attention and action. It is stated in the statement issued on July 31 by INSEC Chairperson, Kundan Aryal.

Statement in the press release: “We urge the government of Nepal to investigate comprehensively into incidents of unjustified and excessive use of force, torture, and custodial deaths in Madhesh province. Immediate and appropriate action should be taken against any policemen found guilty at any level. We request the government to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards incidents of human rights violations. We want to emphasize that human rights organizations, both within and outside the country, are actively monitoring the human rights situation in all parts of the nation.”

The incident involving the suspicious death of newlywed Aarti Shah from Janakpur and the subsequent incident where her family members were called to the District Police Office, Dhanusha, and coerced to provide a contradictory statement was reported in the public some time ago. The family members of the deceased have been protesting at Maitighar Mandala in the capital for the past one and a half months, alleging that Dhanusha’s Superintendent of Police, Bishwaraj Khadka, subjected them to torture in the incident.