Nepal's top rights watchdog has asked the government to promptly investigate the case of Krishna Prasad Adhikari, a teenager who was abducted and murdered by Maoists during the decade-long insurgency.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) asked the head of the Council of Ministers, Khil Raj Regmi, to probe the case. The panel further asked the government to implement its recommendation to book the guilty at the earliest, said a statement issued by the commission.
Adhikari's parents Nanda Prasad Adhikari and Ganga Maya started a fast unto death three weeks ago demanding justice. They were admitted to Kathmandu's Bir Hospital on Friday after their condition deteriorated.
The 16-year-old school boy from Chitawan district in central Nepal was murdered by Maoists a day after his abduction in June 2004. Adhikari had just appeared for the school leaving certificate examination at the time.
Following threats from Maoists, Adhikari's family fled their hometown of Fujel Village Development Committee in Gorkha.
The NHRC sent the case to the government in April 2009, demanding relief and reparations for Adhikari's family. This is the second time the panel has asked the government to book the killers and provide justice to Adhikari's family.
Last week, Adhikari's parents were taken to Bir Hospital from Baluwatar, the Prime Minister's official residence, where they had been staging a fast unto death. They are reportedly semi-conscious and have been given saline water after falling unconscious.
Human Rights Organisation of Nepal president Sudip Pathak too asked the government to move forward the judicial process and book the killers to provide justice to Adhikari's family.
Twelve Maoist cadres, including the personal assistant of Hisila Yemi, wife of Maoist Vice President Baburam Bhattarai, have been accused of involvement in the murder. Pathak claimed the Maoists had publicly admitted they were responsible for the killing.
The Nepal Bar Association will picket the Singhdurbar secretariat, which houses the premier's office, on Tuesday to pressure the government to take action in the matter.
