ICJ concerned over Adhikari couple's health

KATHMANDU, AUG 30 - The International Commission of Jurists ( ICJ ), an international rights body, on Friday expressed concern over the deteriorating health condition of Nanda Prasad Adhikari and his wife Gangamaya, who have long been on a hunger strike demanding investigation into the killing of their son Krishna.

In a statement, South Asia Director of ICJ Ben Schonveld said theAdhikari couple is simply demanding justice. “They are not looking for more commitments or words. They are asking the state of Nepal to obey its own laws and investigate and punish very serious crimes …that violate international human rights law,” reads the statement.

Krishna Adhikari, a native of Fujel VDC in Gorkha, was killed by alleged Maoist cadres on June 6, 2004 in Chitwan district. Chitwan police have started probe into the killing.

Sources said that while the government has agreed to the couple's demand for investigations into the murder, it is unlikely to come up with a firm decision on taking action against the culprits. Any action in this particular case would mean opening thousands of other conflict-era cases that have been pending since the 2006 peace agreement.

Posted on: 2013-08-30 09:59