Kathmandu, September 9 (HS): The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has expressed deep concern over the deaths of protesters in Nepal and called for an urgent and transparent investigation into the incident.

In a statement issued by OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani, the UN said it was shocked by reports of fatalities during the demonstrations. “We call for a prompt and transparent investigation into the deaths and violent incidents during the protests in Nepal,” the statement read.

The protests erupted after the government imposed restrictions on social media platforms, a move widely condemned by young demonstrators as an attack on freedom of expression. According to UN officials, initial findings suggest that security forces resorted to excessive use of force during the protests.

Shamdasani emphasized that the use of force, particularly firearms, must strictly adhere to fundamental international principles. “We urge the authorities to respect and safeguard the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” she said.

The OHCHR also reminded the Oli government of Nepal’s international human rights obligations and called for accountability for the actions of security personnel during the crackdown.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar