Kathmandu: In the wake of the alleged killing of a young businessman by the Maoist army commanders, Nepal's top rights watchdog has asked the government to probe all the crimes committed by the youth wing of the former rebels and punish them on charges of criminal offence.

In a statement, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) listed 10 complaints it received recently against the Maoists that included charges of abduction, torture, killing and threatening of people and cutting drinking water pipeline for not voting for the former rebels in the Constituent Assembly election.

The Maoist army commanders allegedly killed Ramhari Shreshtha, a businessmen, inside their camp here recently.

The NHRC asked the multi-party government to independently probe the crimes committed by the Young Communist League (YCL), the youth wing of the Maoists, and punish its cadres on charges of criminal offence.

There have been anti-Maoists protests almost daily near the Birendra International Convention Centre at Nayabaneshwor, where the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly is scheduled to take place on May 28 to abolish monarchy.

Maoists led by their supremo Prachanda have emerged as the single largest party in the polls and hope to lead the next government.

The Nepal Tourism Board had to cancel a meeting on Sunday over Maoists commitment for tourism promotion after chief guest Prachanda declined to attend the event at Everest Hotel at Nayabaneshwor area, where angry relatives of Shrestha and dozens of human rights bodies have been demonstrating demanding action against the Maoist commanders.

The NHRC says the YCL activists have violated the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, Comprehensive Peace Accord and international humanitarian norms.

Meanwhile, wife of Shrestha met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and handed him a letter demanding action against the culprits.

Koirala promised to form a probe committee after holding talks with Prachanda to punish the culprits.

At least 19 people were hurt on Sunday when police clashed with demonstrators at Koteshwor area as relatives of Shrestha and activists of dozens of human rights groups staged protest against the killing.

Shrestha's family members have claimed that he was killed after abduction by the Maoists inside the cantonment monitored by the United Nations.

The UN mission in Nepal said that it would investigate the case and determine whether he was killed inside the cantonment or outside it.

Prachanda has denied his party's direct involved in the murder, claiming that it was the result of a conspiracy hatched by some "selfish" elements that infiltrated the outfit.

Koteshwor, Baneshwor and Babarmahal areas have been tense for the last four days due to the daily protests by the rights bodies and relatives of Shrestha. Transport services have been halted following burning of tyres by the protesters.

Prominent youth leader of Nepali Congress Gagan Thapa said the Maoist chief, who is the supreme commander of the People's Liberation Army of the former rebels, must take the responsibility for the killing of Shrestha.

Source : PTI