Government Probe Commission Submits Report on Balkumari Protest Deaths

A government-formed probe commission investigating the deaths of two youths during a protest in Balkumari, Lalitpur, has submitted its findings. Birendra Shah from Chaurpati, Achham, and Sujan Rawat from Mahabu, Dailekh, lost their lives when police fired on demonstrators protesting their exclusion from the Employment Permit System (EPS) Korea’s examination.

Chaired by former High Court Judge Shekhar Prasad Paudel, the commission handed over its report to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha on Friday. Former AIG of Nepal Police Arun Kumar GC and Home Ministry Joint Secretary Narayan Prasad Bhattarai served as the other committee members.

The commission, as per a statement released on Friday, meticulously examined the incident. It gathered testimonies from 16 individuals, including eyewitnesses, journalists, victims’ families, injured individuals, and attending physicians. Additionally, statements were taken from representatives of various security agencies and other concerned parties.

Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha affirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the report’s recommendations upon its receipt.