Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday called on Nepal to ensure that investigations into all deaths and injuries during the protests in the Tarai region are fast and transparent.

In a letter to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, the global rights body said that police were reportedly “refusing to register First Information Reports (FIRs) filed on behalf of the victims”. “Despite endless promises of reform, impunity remains the norm in Nepal,” Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW, is quoted as saying in the letter to PM Oli. “Accountability for any abuses by both protesters and police are important, and unfortunately at the moment it looks as if alleged abuses by the police will simply be forgotten.”

The protests over the promulgation of new constitution in September protracted for four months, leading to several clashes between security forces and protesters, which resulted in deaths of over 50 protesters and eight security personnel.