The House of Representative on Monday formed a nine-member committee to investigate the Rukum (West) incident of Dalit killings, giving it 30 days to submit a report to Parliament.

The nine-member panel led by Nepal Communist Party (NCP) lawmaker Devendra Poudel has representatives from all the parties in Parliament. Five of the lawmakers are from the Dalit community. The proposal to form the committee as per Rule 77 of the House regulations was endorsed unanimously.

Following the demand from the opposition, Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota had, on Friday, agreed to form a committee to probe the incident where six youths lost their lives. Opposition leaders had announced not to let the House meeting proceed unless the Speaker issued a ruling to form a probe committee.

Though different government teams, in addition to one from the National Human Rights Commission, are investigating the incident, the Nepali Congress was adamant on forming the parliamentary committee.

On May 23, locals from Soti in Chaurjahari Municipality of Rukum (West) had chased away Nabaraj BK of Jajarkot and 18 of his friends who had accompanied the former to the village to help him elope with his girlfriend, who belonged to the so-called upper caste.

Six youths died from drowning in the Bheri river. Besides Nabaraj, the other deceased are Ganesh Budha Magar, Tikaram Nepali, Lokendra Sunar, Govinda Shahi and Sanju BK.