Gyanendra may face probe for rights abuses

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s former king Gyanendra Shah maybe investigated for human rights violations committed by security forces under his reign.

Published on: Jun 7, 2016, 07:03:08 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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KATHMANDU: Nepal’s former king Gyanendra Shah maybe investigated for human rights violations committed by security forces under his reign.

Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba too has been named in a complaint filed at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a local official of the panel said.

The complainant, Rajan Kirati, accused Shah and Deuba of being responsible for injuries inflicted on him and others by security forces during Nepal’s 10-year civil war. Kirati is a Maoist office-bearer of Udyapur district.

More than 14,000 people were killed during the civil war between government forces and Maoist rebels from 1996 to 2006. Around 1,500 others disappeared without a trace.

The five-member commission, setup last year to probe“gross violations of human rights” during the war, has already received more than 15,000 complaints from victims and their families-more than the number of killings recorded by the government. The commission will make recommendations about reparation to victims and legal action against abusers.

Another commission set up to investigate enforced disappearances during the civil war received more than 1,600 complaints - also higher than the official figure of those who disappeared.

Gyanendra was the king from 2001 to 2008. His reign ended when the Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a republic and abolished the monarchy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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