Gaur Killings: MPRF Denies Responsibility

MPRF has a video of the Gaur incident; Demands a high level probe by international human rights commission into the Gaur incident; Says ready to take responsibility of the killings if found guilty

Gaur Killings

People are terrified and too afraid to sleep after the Gaur killings. They are guarding their lives and properties- those who are still in the town are all awake. Those who could move- have already moved to the Indian side. The whole town is in constant fear- they fear that still more violence could follow.

Although the local administration has tightened the security, the local people said that many of the local people have gone to their relatives and friends in India after the incident. Those who remain here on this side of the border also feel that criminal elements from the Indian side still continue to pose threat to their security and lives.

"After the Maoists cadres beat up some women who were fetching grass for their livestock (in village Hajminia), they yelled for help- and some MPRF activists who were passing by heard their voices. The MPRF activists then came to the place, and took the Maoists cadres under their control. They took them to the nearby temple- BodhiDevi Temple- and killed them," a local said to BBC Nepali Service correspondent Brij Kumar Yadav. Altogether, 12 Maoists cadres were killed at the temple premises- out of a total of at least 28 people including Maoists cadres.

However, MPRF can’t maintain righteousness over the manner in which MPRF activists killed the Maoists cadres. According to human rights activists who made on-field inspection, the shocking details of the murder have surfaced. Besides, a dozen killed in BodhiDevi temple in gruesome manner, the news of the murderers raping five women and cutting off their breasts before killing them has also surfaced.

It has been also speculated that there might be hands of an organized criminal gang taking consideration to the grisly manner of killings. The corpses of the victims have sustained grave wounds made by bamboo sticks and spears which were used repeatedly to smash their heads.

However, MPRF has denied taking the responsibility of the tragedy. MPRF General Secretary, Ram Kumar Sharma, talked with BBC Nepali Service and defended his party and gave some light into the details about the incident. He went on to say that MPRF will take the responsibility if found guilty by a high level international human rights commission investigation into the Gaur killings.

“The Maoists-affiliated Madhesi Mukti Morcha led by Prabhu Shashtri tried to attack some twenty-five thousands people who were participating in our mass meeting. They tried to foil the program.”

“Our program was scheduled to be held there, and we had informed people about it a week ago. But they went on to call another meeting at the same place- that too on the same day but they announced their program just a day before our meeting was going to take place- I call this drama- to make our program unsuccessful.”

“However, there were only 200-300 Maoists cadres who under the leadership of Shastri attacked us. Our 20-25 thousands people retaliated and the incident took place.”

“It should be taken into account that only Maoists have not sustained casualties. Our speaker … Patelji was also injured and so many other people have also received injuries. But due to the large number of people retaliating against a handful number of Maoists cadres- the casualties on their side was high.”

“We have also recorded a video of the incident. You can also watch Nepal Television- the women brought by Shastri attacked us all by sudden. There were also Indian media persons.”

“We are ready to take the responsibility of the incident if we are found guilty by an independent probe led by a high level international human rights commission into the killings.”

At the same time, about 17 corpses of the Gaur victims were cremated on the bank of holy Bagmati in Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu today. Anger, grief and mourning has stuck to the national mood. While people are asking Maoists to maintain restrain, the anger in the Madhesh against Maoists is also palpable.