In a report, the Centre for Victims of Torture, a non governmental organization working in the field of torture and rehabilitation has said that Shikha Ram Chaudhari died in custody due to torture inflicted following the incident at Chitwan National Park on June 04.

The report released by CVICT after a field study said Chaudhari’s death violated both national and international norms and laws especially those against torture.

A team comprising assistant warden of Chitwan National Park, Ranger Ritesh Bhusan Basnet and Game Scout Yam Bahadur Khanal had arrested Chaudhari for having allegedly steaming a rhino’s head to extract its horn and smuggle it.

CVICT further said that the post mortem reports of the Chitwan Medical College and Bharatpur Hospital were contradictory.

The report has recommended appropriate compensation to the victim, and strict legal action against culprits besides independent investigation into incidents of torture of people taken into custody by the parks authorities.

The report also asks the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal, International Committee of Red Cross and National Human Rights Commission to probe the incident.