The development comes on the day myrepublica.com ran a news about Basnet serving the UN mission though he faces a suspension order from a court for his alleged role in the murder of 15-year-old Maina Sunar during the Maoist insurgency.
"The matter has been drawn to the attention of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations at the highest level for appropriate verification and action," Richard Bennett, Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal, told myrepublica.com on Thursday evening.
The exact status of Basnet, a co-accused in the case, in the Nepal Army was unknown till the news came out.
According to army sources, Basnet was sent to serve the mission around mid-September, which also coincides with a court order to the Nepal Army to suspend him for his alleged role in the torture and extrajudicial killing of Sunar in February 2004.
Saying that nomination of an individual who is a main defendant in an ongoing criminal proceeding involving serious human rights violations is a matter of serious concern, Bennett has called the government to immediately recall Basnet from the mission.
"In order to protect the reputation of Nepal Army and its contribution to UN peacekeeping missions, the best course of action for the government would be to immediately recall Major Niranjan Basnet and make him available to the Nepal Police for investigation and prosecution," Bennett said.
But army sources said Nepal Army is unlikely to recall him on its won unless the government orders. "He has already been tried under existing law of the nation. During the investigation and Court Marshal, he was not found guilty," the army source said on condition of anonymity.
Republica´s attempt for comments from army spokesperson Ramindra Chhetri failed.
In the meantime, human rights activists have expressed shock to learn that Basnet is serving a UN peacekeeping mission.
"We had expected that the government would address impunity and give justice to the victim. But our expectations have been dashed out," said human rights activist Mandira Sharma, who is lobbying for justice for the victim and punishment for the guilty in the Sunar case.
She also questioned the UN vetting system for accepting security personnel for peace missions. "Both the government and the UN should investigate how Basnet was selected for the mission," she said.
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