Press note issued by Terai Justice Centre

 

Appellate Court, Janakpur issued a writ of mandamus on November 4, 2014 ordering the defendants (District Police Office, Mahottari and District Administration Office) to lodge a first information report in Serajul Noori murder case and investigate into the incident. The writ was issued by a division bench of judge Purushottam Bhandari and Meghnath Bhattarai. This is the first time, Appellate Court, Janakpur has issued, a writ of mandamus against Nepal Police in the alleged encounter killing case. Noori's younger brother Israfil Mansuri had filed a writ of mandamus at the court on March 24, 2014 seeking registration of an FIR and investigation into the incident. Mansuri had dispatched an FIR by post on February 10, 2014 after District Police Office, Mahottari denied to lodge an FIR in the incident. He had sought to lodge the FIR under homicide chapter. This FIR too was refused by the police.

Noori was allegedly killed in encounter with the police on February 5, 2014. According to the FIR, Noori was killed by police and informants at the order of Deputy Superintendent of Police, District Police Office, Mahottari. Family of the victim has sought action against the culprit under criminal law. The police, however, claimed that Noori was killed in an encounter. The police investigated the incident under involuntary death. District Police Office, Mahottari, Chief of DPO Mahottari, District Administration Office, Mahottari and Chief District officers were named as defendants in the case.

We appeal to the District Police Office Mahottari and other concerned bodies to investigate the killing by lodging an FIR in the case. THRD Alliance Regional Office Janakpur had provided legal aid to the victim's family.

Raksha Ram Harijan

Terai Justice Centre, Kathmandu

Date: November 7, 2014