One million rupees in compensation to the family bereaved in Saptari incident; Panel formed to probe the incident

Kathmandu / March 8: The Government has decided to provide a compensation of Rs. One million to the next of kin of those who died in the clash that took place between Madhesi morcha cadres and police in Saptari on Monday.

The meeting today of the Council of Ministers took the decision. Four people including Sanjan Mehta, Pitamber Lal Mandal, Ananda Shah and Birendra Mahato were killed in the clash that took place as Morcha cadres tried to foil a mass meeting organised by the CPN-UML at the Gajendra Narayan Singh industrial area of Saptari.

The cabinet also decided to form a three-member probe commission led by either former Supreme Court Justice or a retired special class official of judicial service to carry out an inquiry into the incident, according to Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development Hitraj Pandey. The members would be decided by the Home Minister in consultation with the Prime Minister while the committee would be asked to present its report along with recommendation within 15 days of beginning its job.

The government also decided to bear all the cost of treatment of those injured in the Saptari incident. “The government of Nepal fully recognizes the right guaranteed by the constitution to freedom of thought and expression, and to hold peaceful gatherings”, Minister Pandey said while adding that the government appeals to all political parties, citizens, social organisations and the general public to avoid a state of disorder in the society by violating others rights while exercising his/her own rights.

The cabinet today also decided to release a minimum of Rs. 10 million each to the 744 local units (village unit and municipalities) to help them meet the cost of primary functioning by setting up an office.

Three-member probe team to investigate into Saptari incident

Meanwhile, the Eastern Regional Police Office, Biratnagar, has on Wednesday formed a three-member probe team under the coordination of Senior Superintendent of Police at the Zonal Police Office, Koshi, Uttam Karki, to carry out an inquiry into the Saptari incident. Four people including cadres of the United Democratic Madhesi Front were killed in police firing following a clash between police and UDMF cadres on Monday.

Chief of the Eastern Regional Police Office, Deputy Inspector General, Ramesh Bhattarai told that the team comprises Superintendent of Police at Eastern Regional Police Battalion, Bhim Prasad Dhakal, and Superintendent of Police at the Regional Police Office, Bidhyananda Majhi.

The team would start its work from Thursday.

Meanwhile, discussion was held between the District Administration Office, Rajbiraj, and the UDMF representatives to normalize the situation surfaced after the Saptari incident.

During the meeting held between Acting CDO and Administrative Officer, Prem Prasad Upadhyay, and DAO, UDMF demanded declaring the deceased as martyr, compensation, treatment to the injured and action against the guilty of Saptari incident.

The UDMF said an understanding has been reached to receive the bodies of the deceased only after arrival of the new CDO. RSS