2 February 2011. The District Court of Ramechhap has issued an order yesterday to award compensation to the tune of NRs. 20,000/- to torture survivor Padam Maya Sunuwar and departmental actions against the perpetrators involved. A corresponding verdict was also passed by Appellate Court of Baglung on 17 January 2011 in connection to a Torture Compensation (TCA) Case of Kamal Pun.
Padam Maya Sunuwar, a 48-year old woman, a resident of Ward No. 6, Bhuji VDC, Ramechhap District, was arrested by police on 16 January 2010 at around 2 am from her residence on a murder charge. While in police custody, she was severely tortured by a group of male policemen. With help from Advocacy Forum, the victim had filed a TCA case on 16 February, 2010.
Kamal Pun, a 34-years-old man originally from Myagdi district Pakhapani VDC ward no. 1, was arrested by five policemen of Temporary police station, Beni ,Parbat District, on 15 July 2008 at around 10 pm from Majphat VDC Beni following a drunken brawl between him and a person named Kul Bahadur Karki. Brutally tortured by policemen while in custody, he was released from the police custody the next day of his arrest but with his left hand fractured at three different points. With AF’s legal support, the victim filed an application for torture compensation in Parbat District Court on 1 August 2008.
However, the court, in its decision passed on 31 May 2009, quashed the petition citing the lack of adequate evidence of torture. Following the decision, the victim had made an appeal at the Appellate Court of Baglung on 11 August 2009.
