The agitating Kamlari´s have strongly condemned the use of male police personnel and excessive force against them. According to Fakala Tharu, an advocate and Coordinator of Kamlari´s Abolition Struggling Committee, the police launched sudden and indiscriminate attack while they were staging peaceful sit-in at the entrance of Singha Durbar. He said, “It was shocking to see the government using unnecessary force against the Kamlaris instead of addressing their demands." [break]
Two among the injured Kamlaris, who had fainted during the clash with the police, had not regained consciousness till late evening, Tharu said.
Male police officers used excessive force despite the presence of female police personnel, he said.
Quoting doctors, Tharu said, the police baton charged them and injured their sensitive organs and other parts of their body.
However, SSP Subodh Ghimire, who is also the chief at Metropolitan Police Range Office, Kathmanmdu, said, “We were compelled to use force after the protestors tried to cross the restricted area. We didn´t use force intentionally. But we will review any lapses from our side."
He also added that the police was unaware of the protest in the area so couldn´t manage enough female police in the short time to take the situation under control.
The agitating Kamlaris have been demanding that the government investigate the killings and ongoing sexual exploitation of Kamlaris. “There are hundreds of cases that point to the torture, sexual exploitation, harassment, trafficking and disappearance and death under suspicious circumstances of Kamlaris,” said Tharu.
About 70 former Kamlaris have come to Kathmandu to protest the government´s indifference and its reluctance to address their demands.
They have been staging sit-in at Ratna Park of Kathmandu since last Tuesday to exert pressure on the government.
Tharu said, “Unless our voices are heard, we will not return our home. We are staging other serious protests from Monday if government doesn´t address our demands.”
The other injured are Rita Chaudhary, Dipika Chaudhary, Sujata Chaudhary, Sarmila Chaudhary, Kamal BK, Kamala Chaudhary, Ramita Chaudhary and Mina Chaudhary. They were shifted to Annapurna Hospital from Bir Hospital. The arrested were released in the evening, according to the Police Inspector Nisan Thapa of Metropolitan Police Sector Singh Durbar.
Different political parties, including CPN-UML, have condemned the use of excessive force by the government to foil the protest by Kamlaris. They have also urged the government to address the demand of the Kamlaris at the earliest.
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