Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Four human rights organizations have jointly called for an immediate judicial investigation into the Tikune incident on March 28 which claimed two lives.
The Accountability Watch Committee, Amnesty International Nepal, Advocacy Forum Nepal, and Justice and Rights Institute (JuRI) Nepal issued a collective appeal on Sunday, expressing serious concern over the event.
According to a statement issued by Nepal Police on April 2, 58 rounds of live ammunition were fired on March 29, injuring 20 people, with Sabin Maharjan succumbing to gunshot wounds. Thirteen of the injured are receiving treatment at different hospitals. The police also fired 746 tear gas shells and 198 blank rounds to disperse the crowd.
However, news reports quoting a confidential police source lcaim that 110 live rounds, including shots from semi-automatic weapons (SLRs), 201 rubber bullets, and a total of 968 tear gas shells were used on the day.
“The emerging facts surrounding the incident make it impossible to confidently assert that the police’s use of force was ‘necessary’ or ‘proportionate,’ nor can the home ministry be given the benefit of the doubt,” the four right organizations said in the statement.
They called for a fair and independent judicial inquiry into the excessive use of force, its consequences, the mysterious death of journalist Suresh Rajak, and the violent acts committed by protesters.
