NHRC urges rebels to release security personnel

March 10, 2006
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National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to release over two dozen security personnel said to be under their custody.

Map of Nawalparasi (File photo)
In a statement issued on Friday, the Commission said it had received preliminary information saying that the rebels had taken into custody a total of 28 security personnel including 21 soldiers, six Armed Police Force personnel and a policeman after clashes at Rambhapur of western terai district of Nawalparasi on Thursday.

The Commission has urged the rebels to treat the security personnel under their custody in accordance with international humanitarian law and release them unharmed without any precondition.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Friday, the CPN (Maoist) has said it has taken into custody 12 security personnel after Nawalparasi clashes. A spokesman of the Maoist armed wing, Ramesh Koirala, said all the security personnel under their custody were being treated as per the Geneva conventions and that they will be released soon after fulfilling necessary procedure. He said four of the soldiers they have taken into custody were the same who had been taken into custody after Palpa clashes.

Nearly two dozen people, including over a dozen security personnel, are reported killed during fierce clashes in Nawalparasi on Thursday. A 21-year-old young woman was killed and three other civilians were injured when the explosives laid down by the rebels along the highway exploded.

The authorities have confirmed the incident but said they are still awaiting for details.