Weak management of arms responsible for Nagarkot incident: Judicial Commission The high level committee headed by former Justice at the Supreme Court, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, formed to probe the Nagarkot carnage has held responsible weak management of arms in the army barracks as being responsible for the incident.
Site of carnage: Kalidevi temple at Nagarkot (Photo courtesy: Nepali Times)
The Nagarkot massacre occurred after a minor scuffle between Thapa and local villagers who were singing, drinking and dancing till late in the evening after a local fair at the Kalika Devi temple at Chihandanda on December 14.
In the reckless shooting spree, Thapa- who was in his twenties-- shot dead 12 civilians including women and children. He was also found dead at the site of incident.
A copy of the probe commission report, seen by Nepalnews at Keshar Library at Lainchour on Thursday, says Thapa, who had left the barrack without permission was allowed to carry the gun without fulfilling any formality around midnight and that the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of the Royal Nepalese Army at Nagarkot barrack was not alert and aware even though the weapon was taken out of the barrack.
The Judicial Commission said Thapa returned to the barrack after minor scuffle with the local villagers and took a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) from the bed of Raj Kumar Shahi, another soldier and a member of the Quick Response Team (QRT), who was on duty. Shahi was carrying LMG while on duty, the Commission said.
The report further said that though Thapa was transferred to Naya Ranabhumi Company of the RNA, he was allowed easily to take the weapon outside the barrack.
Thapa was also allowed to be inside the barrack without even asking the password. As per the RNA rules, officers as well as soldiers need to utter `password’ of the day before entering the barrack.
“Thapa had the history of remaining absent from duty for up to two weeks without permission and had also opened fire indiscriminately when he was a sentry. The officer leading the RNA Academy, Nagarkot, had failed to maintain strong discipline among personnel under him,” the report said.
The report also concluded that soldier Thapa committed suicide by shooting himself after the carnage and that it did not find any evidence of involvement of any other person except Thapa in the incident.
The autopsy report of Thapa, published as part of the report, said, “Although the site of the entry wound over the anterior mid chest is not a very common site for self-infliction of a rifled firearm entry wound, it seems as a site of self-infliction in some cases.”
“The cause of death, as stated above, is rifle firearm wounds of the chest and abdomen,” the report added.
The committee also suggested that the government take necessary action to prevent the possibility of fights erupting between locals and army personnel who take part in local festivals without permission.
“Management, and operation and discipline within the barracks should be immediately reformed,” the report said.
The report has also urged the government to provide more relief assistance to families of victims, arrangement for education, livelihood for families totally dependent on the deceased, compensation to the injured and guarantee of a future livelihood for those who have become disabled or helpless due to the incident.
The report has also displayed pictures showing that it was possible to commit suicide by using an SLR.
The RNA is yet to make the report submitted by the RNA’s separate probe committee headed by Brigadier General Netra Bahadur Thapa public. nepalnews.com pb Jan 05 06
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