UN “shocked” at Dalit Killings in Rukum, calls for independent probe

GENEVA, May 30: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Friday said he was “shocked” at the killing of five men belonging to Dalits community by opponents of an inter-caste relationship at Soti village in Chaurjahari Municipality of Western Rukum last week, as well as slammed several other incidents of caste-based discrimination and violence that have taken place in Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 21-year-old Nawaraj BK of Jajarkot, accompanied by his 18 his friends, had reached Chaurjahari in Karnali province to take Nawaraj’s girlfriend belonging to a so-called “dominant” caste group as bride on 23 May, allegedly at her request. But the locals of the girl’s village had attacked Nawaraj and his friends and chased them away.