INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, September 21
The National Human Rights Commission has expressed serious concern about disrespectful treatment and torture being
meted out to persons taken into custody by the police for criminal investigation.
A report recently released by the NHRC Province 3 Office
revealed that police were also arresting persons without any warrant
&Jailbirds admitted to hospital were shackled even during medical treatment in the presence of armed cops
It is against the provisions set forth in Section 11(2) of the Prison Act,& reads the report.
Similarly, the NHRC received complaints about
the refusal of police to register some cases of violence against women
According to the report, most of the prisons are overcrowded and are in dilapidated conditions and need to be rebuilt or
renovated.
Jailbirds are deprived of basic amenities and human rights, including sanitation, room space, quality food and regular health
Many prisons lack space for jailbirds to sleep conveniently
Jailbirds have also been denied sports and entertainment materials, skill training and adequate textbooks for formal education.
The state of
custody rooms is also as bad as prison cells
The police custody rooms in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan and Nuwakot districts have detainees more than double their holding capacity.
Cases
of abuse in police custody rooms have beenreported.
Likewise, frequent incidents of bomb explosion, arson and vandalism in Kathmandu and
other places of Province 3 have violated citizens& rights to live in a secure, peaceful and dignified environment.
The report has also
voiced concerns about the Media Council Bill tabled in the Parliament
It said the bill intended to curtail press freedom and free press in the country
&The press is an integral part of democracy and it should not be controlled under the pretext of regulation,& the report stated.
The rights
body said the government had failed to ensure disabled-friendly infrastructure for persons with disabilities
According to Article 42 (3) of the constitution, people with physical impairment shall have the right to dignified life and equal access to
social services and facilities.
Similarly, Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2017 has stipulated a provision of accessible physical
infrastructure for the disabled.
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