The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Sunday said it has launched investigation into the incidents at Thankot, Kathmandu, and Dadhikot, Bhaktapur, to find out whether human rights norms and international humanitarian law were observed.

A statement issued by the commission said that in the course of the investigation/monitoring, an NHRC team carried out inspection in the incident sites and learned from local eyewitnesses, injured persons and the security officials, about the incidents.

11 policemen including an inspector were killed in a sudden Maoist raid on a security check post at Thankot, one of the main entry points to Kathmandu, last evening. Similarly, one policeman was killed and half a dozen others including a civilian were injured in a similar attack at Dadhikot Ilaka Police Post in Bhaktapur.

The NHRC monitoring team comprised of two members – Sudeep Pathak and Gokul Pokhrel – and other officers.

Saying that the Maoists are learnt to have abducted a police constable, Bikram Kalika, after attack on Dadhikot Police Post, the rights watchdog urged the CPN (Maoist) to release him immediately and without condition.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Kamal Thapa inspected Thankot security check post and inquired about the incident with police officials, reports said.