It further said that those accused in the murder of Maina and businessman Ram Hari Shrestha should be tried before a civilian court.
Repatriated by the UN from its peacekeeping mission on December 10, Basnet is currently under military detention. Nepal Police has already written to the Nepal Army to hand over Basnet for prosecution.
Earlier on Thursday afternoon, members of civil society and rights community met the NHRC commissioners, requesting the latter to speak on Niranjan case.
A member of the civil society said NHRC commissioners were unhappy with rights activists for raising loud voices against Basnet and not talking about rights violations by the Maoists.
NHRC said it has written a letter to the prime minister´s office drawing the attention of the government on the Niranjan case.
Maina´s mother´s appeal
Devi Sunar, Maina´s mother, has demanded that the government hand over Basnet to the police as soon as possible.
“I am not fighting only for my daughter, but for all those who lost their family members during the conflict,” said Sunar at a press meet organized by Accountability Watch Committee.
She further said that some identified persons had called her in the past offering property for her family if she withdrew the murder cases against army officials, including Basnet.
“Had I been fighting for myself, I would have happily accepted the offer. But I did not,” she said.
She said that she wants to meet Defense Minister Bidya Bhandari and apprise her of the facts about the murder of her daughter by the army personnel in February 2004.
Speaking at the press conference, Accountability Watch Committee Chairman Sushil Pyakurel said that the army´s refusal to hand over Basnet to a civilian court defying a court order has put into question the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.
NHRC urges govt to end torture in custody and prisons