KATHMANDU, Nov 2: The rift among the commissioners of the National Human Rights Commission further widened on Sunday over the issue of publication of a report on the rape of a woman constable in the Achham District Police Office.
As the national human rights watchdog organized a press conference on Sunday afternoon to make public the report, two members -- Dr Leela Pathak and Dr KB Rokaya -- boycotted the press meet protesting that the report was not discussed in the commission before it was made public.
“It is a practice in the commission to hold discussion on any of its reports before it is made public,” said Dr Pathak, “But this time it was not discussed in the commission. How can we own such a report?”
Chairman Kedar Nath Upadhayay, members Ram Nagina Singh and Gauri Pradhan are in one camp, while members Dr Leela Pathak and Dr KB Rokaya are in another. The growing conflict has started affecting day-day works of the constitutional body.
“How can such a serious report be made public without prior approval from the commission,” questioned Dr Pathak.
Commissioner and Spokesperson Gauri Pradhan downplayed the conflict, saying that it was a technical issue. “They raised the issue in the meeting [held after the press conference]. Whether the report should be discussed in the commission before it was made public is a technical issue,” Pradhan told myrepublica.com.
Circumstantial evidences indicate rape
NHRC said that the woman constable was raped by his colleagues in the Achham District Police Office last month and has asked the government to carry out an independent investigation into the incident.
It has also stated that “circumstantial evidences show that the woman was raped,” Pradhan said at the press meet. “Maximum punishment should be awarded to the guilty [in the rape].” The commission has also recommended that government provide compensation to the victim.
Meanwhile, Pradhan claimed that the commission had received information that women police personnel continue to be victims of sexual harassment and discrimination in the police organization.
NHRC has recommended the government to ensure safe working environment for women police personnel by enforcing code of conduct and necessary policies. When asked to be more specific on the charge against the police organization, Pradhan said, “We have been investigating into the charges.”
An NHRC official said that the office has received complaints - one from Pokhara and another from Biratnagar -- that women police personnel have been sexually abused.
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