Prabhu Sah Questions Delay in Justice for Gaur Massacre Victims

In a recent address to the House of Representatives, Prabhu Sah, Chairman of the Aam Janata Party, has expressed growing concerns regarding the implementation of a government agreement aimed at addressing the Gaur Massacre, a tragic incident that occurred on March 21, 2007.

The government had signed an agreement on August 8 with the victims of the Gaur Massacre, pledging to thoroughly investigate the complaints lodged by the victims’ families and to ensure that those responsible for the massacre are held accountable for their actions. Additionally, the government committed to publishing the names of victims declared as martyrs in the Gazette, as decided in a cabinet meeting on December 24, 2008.

However, Sah has drawn attention to a consensus reached within the ruling coalition that seeks to halt the execution of this agreement. One key figure within the coalition, Upendra Yadav, Chairperson of the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), has been accused by the Gaur Massacre victims of being a central figure in the tragic event.

Sah, during his address, raised pointed questions about the state of the rule of law in Nepal. He questioned the lack of justice for the Gaur victims even after 17 years and the apparent lack of accountability for the perpetrators of the massacre. The Gaur Massacre claimed the lives of 27 individuals, 26 of whom were affiliated with the then CPN (Maoist), and was marked by a violent clash during simultaneous rallies organized by the Madheshi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) and CPN (Maoist) on the same location.

Describing the incident as more than just murder, Sah emphasized that it was a genocide involving the use of automatic weapons and instances of rape and murder of women. He cited investigation reports and post-mortem examinations as supporting evidence for these claims.

The government had previously undertaken an investigation into the Gaur Massacre by establishing a high-level inquiry commission led by a sitting judge. Sah demanded answers regarding the status of the commission’s report and the progress on the complaints filed by the families of the victims. These issues, Sah stressed, require immediate attention and action from the government.