The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said it found the involvement of former Maoists combatants in the bloody incident of Tikapur in which eight police personnel were lynched.

“It has been found through investigation that former Maoist combatants were involved in the group of protesters who came from Joshipur VDC in Kailali district. Most of the demonstrators were understood to be youth,” the commission said in its statement on Thursday.

According to the statement, home-made weapons such as spear, axe and Khukuri were used to kill Nepal Police SSP Laxman Neupane, among other police personnel.

“Apparently the protesters went berserk and launched counterattack after the police lobbed teargas shells and opened fire at them,” read a statement issued by NHRC spokesperson Mohna Ansari. “The security personnel including SSP Neupane were killed despite the request to Tharuhat cadres not to disturb the communal harmony.”

“We also found during our monitoring that an 18-month-old child was killed while playing at his porch due to firing from a nearby field,” said the commission in its report.

Saying that the arsons in private residences of general public including that of lawmakers in the aftermath of the carnage have posed a challenge to law and order, the commission has drawn the government’s attention to investigate the incident, punish the culprits, provide security to the people, relief to the families of victims, and make arrangements for the treatment of those injured.

Likewise, the commission has urged the government and the agitating groups to remain alert in order to prevent the incident like Tikapur.