The family of a 33-year-old man who died two days after being admitted to a drug rehabilitation centre in Jhapa has filed a police complaint against the centre’s operator, alleging physical abuse and negligence.
Nar Bahadur Basnet, from Kolbote in ward 2 of Phakphokthum Rural Municipality, Ilam, died at Shanti Samuha Nepal Rehabilitation Centre in ward 1 of Birtamode Municipality, Jhapa. His family has called for an impartial investigation, saying the circumstances of his death are suspicious.
According to the complaint, CCTV footage from the centre shows Basnet being held in a room with his hands and feet tied. The footage allegedly shows other people pressing down on his body as he cries out in pain, slapping him in the face and using ropes and sticks against him.
His younger brother, Tara Basnet, said he saw serious injuries on various parts of his brother’s body when he viewed the body at the hospital mortuary.
The family has cited the CCTV footage and the injuries as evidence of alleged beatings and negligence in treatment. However, the role of any physical abuse in Basnet’s death, as well as the cause of death, has yet to be established through police investigation and medical examination.
The family had admitted Basnet to the centre on October 11 for a three-month stay to help him overcome substance dependence. Two days later, on October 13, the centre informed them that he had fallen ill. He had already died by the time his relatives reached the hospital.
Bikram Chhetri, the centre’s operator, acknowledged that Basnet had been beaten to frighten him. “People don’t die from a little beating,” Chhetri said.
Basnet was first taken to Kanchanjungha Hospital and then transferred to Birta City Hospital. Doctors at Birta City declared him dead on arrival, saying he had died before reaching the hospital.
Dissatisfied with the rehabilitation centre's explanation and concerned about what they said were suspicious scenes in the CCTV footage, the family filed a complaint naming the operator at the Area Police Office in Birtamode.
The CCTV footage related to the incident has since been made public. Police said they were continuing their investigation.