Responding to the nationwide protest against the attack on Dalits, Minister Ghimire told a delegation of Dalit Civil Society members at the ministry that government would leave no stone unturned to bring the guilty to justice. [break]
Quoting Minister Ghimire, Binod Pahadi, a member of the society and former lawmaker, said that the government would adopt zero tolerance against such discriminatory activities.
Government has formed a three-member probe committee to chalk out ways to curb such incidents under the leadership of Rudra Prasad Paudel, director general of Police Records Office. The other members of the committee are Deputy Inspector General of Police Yadhav Adhikari and Investigation Director Devraj Bhatta of National Investigation Department. The committee has been asked to submit its report along with recommendation of charges that can be pressed against the accused within seven days, said Shankar Prasad Koirala, spokesperson at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Meanwhile, the government has urged the protesting Dalits to withdraw their protests and help the government in strengthening its campaign against such discriminations. According to the Home Ministry, the government has also started formation of a high level working committee, with participation from Dalits members as well, to study and suggest the condition of Dalit communities.
Dalit Civil Society on Tuesday protested in front of Singha Durbar for an hour demanding justice for the victims of the Rautahat incident. Chairperson of Federation of Dalit Non-government Organizations Gajadhar Sunar urged the government to immediately bring the accused under police custody and punish the guilty involved.
They also urged the government to ensure relief package, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the destroyed settlement. The delegation had also met Leela Mani Poudyal, the chief secretary of the government, and sought government´s support.
Meanwhile, a joint team of the government officials and representatives of Dalit organizations visited the site and heard the grievances of the victims, according to Rem Biswokarma, president of Jagaran Media Center.
According to the Biswokarma, some of the accused in the incident had tried to obstruct the visit to the site but they were able to visit under police escort. The visiting team is organizing a corner assembly in Pipariya VDC on Wednesday, where the incident took place. Around a dozen Dalits were attacked and their houses vandalized by high-caste locals last Friday following a month-old dispute over the use of a local temple.
Related story
Home Minister Shrestha prepares to form a commission to solve p...
