NEPAL: Police sexually abuse and torture a woman and two other detainees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) December 3, 2010 --

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the repeated beatings and torture inflicted by a police team from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD), Hanumandhoka police station upon Gyan Bahadur Balami, Makar Bahadur Gharti Magar and Hermin Ratu Lama on 31 October and 1 November 2010. It is also alleged that the policemen sexually abused Ratu Lama. Since the incidents and as of 26 November, the victims have not been provided appropriate medication and they remain in the custody of the same police station in which the police team that allegedly tortured them is also on duty. It must be noted that Inspector Bhism Humagai who commanded the team had already accused of a case involving the assault of detainees earlier this year. No action had been taken against him so far, allowing him to remain on duty.

CASE NARRATIVE:
According to the information we have received, the police arrested Gyan Bahadur Balami (Gyanu), 36 from Hetauda Bus Park in Makwanpur district at around 8.30 am on 31 October 2010. The police suspected Gyanu for stealing a USD 1,000 worth travel cheque, a valuable stone and some gold from a house in Shyambhu, Kathmandu a few days before.

At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly talking in his mobile phone when five to six policemen from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD), Hanumandhoka police station under the command of Inspector Bhism Humagai approached him from behind. The police allegedly assaulted Gyanu with sticks, and punched and kicked him. He was then reportedly handcuffed with his hands held back and beaten for 20 more minutes, before being blindfolded with a piece of cloth and taken by a vehicle to a nearby jungle. The policemen reportedly pushed him out of the jeep, dragged him to a ditch and forced his head in-between the roots of a fallen tree. The victim was then inflicted serious torture: the policeman who had driven the vehicle forced a pistol into his mouth while the others beat him randomly on his back, legs, hands and soles. Then they drilled on his right sole with a sharp wooden stick until it started bleeding. In spite of the victim’s screams, the torture continued and some of the policemen reportedly banged his left shoulder against a tree while two of them repeatedly climbed on it and beat randomly on his back. It is reported that Gyanu suffered a fracture on his shoulder due to this. Questioning him about the stolen gold and money, the policemen flexed his fingers vigorously until he agreed to admit the crime. The victim reports having heard that someone was ordering the police officers to shoot him immediately through a walkie-talkie. The policemen reportedly forced him to lie on his back, cocked a pistol, forced it into his mouth and said, "What is your last desire?" but they were interrupted by the victim’s mobile phone ringing.
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Urgent appeal case details: http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2010/3604/

Impunity     Police Violence     sexual abuse against women     torture     Womens Right