Rights defenders observed the second death anniversary of Nanda Prasad Adhikari on Thursday, calling for a swift delivery of justice to retain the trust of victims in judiciary.

Speakers at a programme to mark the anniversary said that the state was giving continuity to impunity instead of maintaining law and order.

“Justice should be delivered while the petitioner is still alive,” said rights defender Charan Prasai, “It is not just Nanda Prasad, the state is indifferent to the plight of the public at large, which is a shame.”

Nanda Prasad, along with his wife Ganga Maya, staged hunger strike demanding justice for his teenage son Krishna Prasad, who was allegedly abducted and killed by the then rebels Maoists in 2004. After 11 months of fast-onto-death, Nanda Prasad died in Bir Hospital. But his body is still lying in the morgue of the TU Teaching Hospital as none of his relatives has turned up to claim it.

The Amnesty International Nepal lit candles at the gate of Bir Hospital with Ganga Maya in attendance. “Light of my life went off long ago. Do I get justice in my life time?” asked Nanda Prasad’s widow, who broke her fast after being assured of justice.

After taking her statement last week, the Chitwan District Court scheduled a hearing in the case on September 25.

“Attorney General Raman Shrestha has assured us that one of the accused would also be arrested as per the court order. But it turned hollow,” said Prasai.