War Criminal Promoted to Second in Command of Nepal Army

Three Maoist leaders have challenged the government’s decision to promote Toran Jung Bahadur Singh to second in command of the Nepal Army.

Maoist leaders Krishna KC, Himal Sharma and Bina Magar filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court on Sunday seeking the scraping of the government’s decision to promote Singh.

KC, Sharma and Magar were detained by the Bhairabnath Battalion of the Nepal Army during the insurgency period from where, according to OHCHR, 49 detainees disappeared. Singh was head of the battalion at that time.

The government on December 24 had promoted Singh to Lieutenant General, Chief of General Staff, despite opposition from UN bodies in Kathmandu and other national and international human rights organizations. He was given the command of acting army chief when Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Chattra Man Singh Gurung embarked on a visit to India.

Over a dozen human rights organizations have urged the government to review the decision to promote Singh.