Home Minister Shakti Basnet in the office of the NHRC Chair Anup Raj Sharma on Monday. Photo: NHRCNational Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked Home Minister Shakti Basnet to ensure that police exercise restraint while dealing with Madhesi protesters.
Two days after Sadbhavana Party Chair Upendra Mahato was thrashed by police in Biratnagar, NHRC Chair Anup Raj Sharma told Basnet that the government needs to 'play greater role to protect human rights of its citizens'.
More than 50 people have died and many more injured in Nepal's southern plains after protests against the new constitution began four months ago. There are reports that police have used 'excessive force' to quell protests in many parts.NHRC member Mohana Ansari said 'police have beaten up protesters after encircling them in many cases' and 'the home administration needs to be more sensitive about it'.
But Basnet said 'police have so far used force only when protesters torched public properties or attacked them'.