26 June 2026
Kathmandu, Nepal
On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Amnesty International Nepal and Advocacy Forum-Nepal express grave concern over the Government of Nepal’s continued failure to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, as well as deaths in places of detention and other government facilities.
The Constitution of Nepal, the National Penal Code, 2017, and Nepal’s obligations under the United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT) unequivocally prohibit torture. Yet torture and ill-treatment continue to be reported in police custody, prisons, child correctional homes, and other places of detention. These violations, along with repeated deaths in custody and the government’s persistent failure to conduct independent investigations into these incidents and hold perpetrators accountable, expose deep structural failures in Nepal’s criminal justice system that reinforce a culture of impunity and reflect the government’s tolerance of such human rights violations.
Custodial deaths expose systemic failures
Since 2024, Advocacy Forum-Nepal has documented 29 custodial deaths and 22 cases of torture in the country. Just recently, on 13 June, Shabir Baksh, a 21-year-old man died in custody in Surkhet. Earlier in April 20, Shree Krishna BK, 23, also died in custody in Sindhuli. There are allegations that these deaths resulted from torture in detentions. Reports indicate that detainees from Indigenous and Dalit communities are disproportionately subjected to torture, ill-treatment and other forms of abuse because of entrenched caste- and ethnicity-based discrimination. Along with Shree Krishna BK’s death, the deaths of 56-year-old Ramkishan Chaudhary and 21-year-old Dutraj Tamang, both in 2025, underscore concerns about the vulnerability of marginalized communities in custody.
“Torture is absolutely prohibited under international law and Nepal’s own Constitution, yet incidents of custodial torture continue, and custodial deaths remain its most grave, visible manifestation. Survivors and families continue to be denied justice while those responsible rarely face consequences,” said Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty International Nepal.
Torture is absolutely prohibited under international law and Nepal’s own Constitution, yet incidents of custodial torture continue, and custodial deaths remain its most grave, visible manifestation.
Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty International Nepal
Survivors and families continue to be denied justice while
those responsible rarely face consequences
“The government’s failure to investigate torture independently and prosecute perpetrators has created a dangerous culture of impunity that enables these abuses to continue, especially for marginalized communities for whom access to justice is already limited. We urge the government to take immediate steps to prevent torture, ensure independent investigations into all allegations of abuse and deaths in custody, hold those responsible accountable, and provide victims and their families with effective remedies and reparations.”
The use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment also goes beyond police stations and prisons. As exposed in recent incidences, such as forced eviction of landless people across the country, the Gen-Z protests in September 2025 and numerous other past protests, excessive use of force by security personnel has resulted in pain and suffering of people under the control of security forces.
Children face heightened risks, as illustrated by the killing of five children by police gunfire at a child reform home in Banke during the time of Gen Z protests in September 2025. Beyond allegations of torture, some deaths in custody also reflect poor detention conditions, inadequate healthcare, and chronic overcrowding. One alarming incident occurred in August 2025 in Sunsari, where three inmates died in four days from a viral infection while hundreds more fell ill. The outbreak and subsequent deaths raise concerns about prison healthcare and detention conditions.
A step towards accountability is the recent conviction of 15 individuals, including seven police personnel, who were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Sankhuwasabha District Court, in connection with the 2023 deaths of two inmates at Sankhuwasabha District Prison. The police had initially claimed the deaths occurred in “a scuffle between inmates”. However, the investigation revealed that after being recaptured while allegedly attempting to escape, the two men were assaulted by security personnel and a group of inmates, resulting in their deaths. This underscores how important it is to have prompt, independent investigations and fair prosecution of such incidents before civilian courts.
Conflict-era torture survivors continue to wait for justice
Thousands of survivors of torture, including survivors of rape and sexual violence, during Nepal’s 1996–2006 armed conflict, continue to be denied truth, justice and reparations.
Although Nepal already established three separate transitional justice commissions, none of them were able to deliver meaningful results including truth and accountability. Despite important legislative amendments in 2024, concerns remain that existing provisions could still prevent full accountability for serious human rights violations, including torture.
The National Penal Code also imposes a six-month limitation period for filing torture complaints, making it virtually impossible for survivors of conflict-era torture to seek justice. Under international human rights law, torture is a crime for which statutes of limitation should not apply.
“The failure to address torture committed during the armed conflict has entrenched a culture of impunity that continues to undermine accountability today. From police stations and prisons to child correction facilities and public assemblies, allegations of torture, ill-treatment and excessive use of force continue to emerge, while victims and their families are too often denied justice,” said Bikash Basnet, Executive Director of Advocacy Forum-Nepal.
The failure to address torture committed during the armed conflict has entrenched a culture of impunity that continues to undermine accountability today. From police stations and prisons to child correction facilities and public assemblies, allegations of
Bikash Basnet, Executive Director, Advocacy Forum-Nepal
torture, ill-treatment and excessive use of force continue to emerge, while victims and their families are too often denied justice
“Ending torture requires more than legal prohibitions: it requires truth, justice and reparations for victims, independent investigations, and meaningful accountability. Victims of torture have the right to truth, justice, full reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence.”
As highlighted in our previous press statement on June 25, 2025, the authorities have yet to address longstanding cases of torture and unlawful deaths. The continued failure to ensure truth, justice, and reparations for victims perpetuates impunity and undermines Nepal’s human rights obligations. Amnesty International Nepal and Advocacy Forum-Nepal call on the Government of Nepal to:
- Amend the National Penal Code to fully align Nepal’s laws with international human rights law and standards, including removing the statute of limitations for torture offences.
- Ensure that all allegations of deaths, torture, and other ill-treatment in custody; conflict-era rape and sexual violence, torture and other ill-treatment; and unlawful use of force, torture, and other ill-treatment in public assemblies, protests, and forced eviction operations are promptly, independently and impartially investigated, and that law enforcement officials responsible for violations are held accountable.
- Investigate thoroughly, impartially and independently all allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment under international law, both past and present, and where there is sufficient admissible evidence, prosecute those suspected of committing crimes before competent, independent and impartial civilian courts, in fair trials under international standards.
- Ensure regular and independent monitoring of all places of detention by official actors and civil society representatives.
- Fully implement all outstanding recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission relating to torture, deaths in custody and compensation for victims.
- Collect and publish annual disaggregated data on allegations of torture, investigations, prosecutions, convictions, deaths in custody and reparations provided to victims.
- Accede to and implement the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT).
- Facilitate a country visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
- Ensure that victims of torture and other serious human rights violations committed during the 1996–2006 armed conflict receive truth, justice, full reparations, rehabilitation and guarantees of non-recurrence, and that those responsible are prosecuted before ordinary civilian courts without undue delay.
- Amend the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act to fully comply with Nepal’s obligations under international human rights law by explicitly criminalizing torture and other gross violations of international law and ensuring that no amnesty is available for such crimes.