2015 Tikapur massacre

On 24 August 2015, armed protestors affiliated with the Tharuhat Struggle Committee conducted an attack on security forces in Tikapur, a western city of Nepal. Protestors attacked officers attempting to enforce restrictions with axes, scythes, and spears[1] killing eight, including seven police officers and a two-year-old baby. Police officer Ram Bihari Tharu was burned alive by the protestors.[1][2]

2015 Tikapur massacre
Location Tikapur, Kailali
Date24 August 2015
TargetNepal Police
Attack type
Massacre
Weaponsaxes, scythes, spears, handguns, burning alive
Deaths8 (including one toddler)
InjuredUnknown
PerpetratorsResham Lal Chaudhary, Harinarayan Chaudhary, Raj Kumar Kathariya, Sundar Lal Kathariya, Brija Mohan Dagaura, Rajesh Chaudhary, Bir Bahadur Chaudhary, Pradip Chaudhary, Sitaram Chaudhary, Shrawan Chaudhary, Gangaram Dagaura Chaudhary, and many others
Convictionslife in prison(11 people), 10 years (12 people), six months (one person)

Background

Minority ethnic groups have been demonstrating across Nepal, saying the new constitution, which would divide the country into seven federal states, would discriminate against them and give them insufficient autonomy.

Convictions

On March 7, 2019, Kailali District Court sentenced 11 people including a member of parliament from Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, Resham Lal Chaudhary to life in prison for their roles in orchestrating and carrying out the massacre. The families of the victims expressed relief, whereas Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal objected on the grounds that the incident was political in nature, not criminal. Legislator Chaudhary is set to be stripped of his position following the sentencing. He has already begun serving his sentence.[3] 12 others were sentenced to 10 years in prison and one accused was sentenced to six months. One of the convicts facing life sentence is due to only serve 10 years since he was a minor at the time of the incident. Three of the tried have been acquitted.[3] More than 30 suspects are still at large.

References
  1. "Protesters in western Nepal kill police with spears, axes". CNN. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  2. Deuba, Tekendra. "Only 8, including 7 police and a child, killed in Kailali clashes, claims Far-Western Regional Police Office". thehimalayantimes.com. Himalaya Times. Archived from the original on August 25, 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  3. "Resham Chaudhary and ten others sentenced to life for 2015 violence in Tikapur". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
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