Kathmandu, April 26 -- The Joint People's Movement Committee formed by pro-monarchy groups has submitted a petition to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), urging the UN body to investigate alleged human rights violations during a protest in Kathmandu on March 28.

Addressed to UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk, the petition claims that 'a peaceful protest' at Tinkune-demanding restoration of the constitutional monarchy, a Hindu kingdom with multiparty democracy, and an end to federalism and corruption-was 'brutally suppressed by the security forces even before the programme formally started.'

The petition alleges 'disproportionate and arbitrary use of force'. It states that 'such government action...