Human rights bodies within the country and abroad have expressed concern at the way authorities in Nepal’s capital evicted hundreds settled on banks of the Bagmati River.
Human rights bodies within the country and abroad have expressed concern at the way authorities in Nepal’s capital evicted hundreds settled on banks of the Bagmati River.
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On Tuesday, municipal authorities and personnel from Armed Police Force in Kathmandu demolished 257 homes leaving 844 residents including 401 children homeless to make way for an urban development project.
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The move also destroyed a primary school where nearly 200 evicted children studied. Nearly 12,000 Kathmandu residents are expected to be displaced for the project.
Accusing the authorities of disrespecting the rights of people living in the settlements, the New York-based Human Rights Watch has asked the Nepal government to immediately stop forcible evictions.
“The government has obligations to respect due procedure, inform people affected well in advance, and to ensure availability of alternative housing,” said Brad Adams, HRW’s Asia Director.
Without any means of shelter to escape pre-monsoon showers, most evicted families are still staying close to their demolished homes or seeking safety in nearby parks and buildings.
The Bagmati Action Plan, which aims to develop the banks of Bagmati could witness eviction of over 10,000 squatters. Nearly 41% of them are stated to be below 19 years of age.
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The rights body wants the government to respect UN-developed specific standards like providing alternative housing and non-disruption of children’s education while carrying out evictions.
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The rights body wants the government to respect UN-developed specific standards like providing alternative housing and non-disruption of children’s education while carrying out evictions.
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The National Human Rights Commission, National Women Commission and other human rights bodies in Nepal have also urged the government to re-settle the evicted squatters at the earliest and provide them social security.
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.
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