Growing incidents of rape have terrorised girls and women of Kanchanpur. Five rape cases were reported in the district in the last one month. Two of the victims were murdered after rape.

The latest victim was 13-year-old Nirmala Panta from Bhimdatta Municipality, whose body was discovered in a sugarcane field on July 26, a day after she was reported missing. While the case grabbed national attention and elicited public furore, the authorities are yet to arrest the perpetrators. This has further stoked fear among Kanchanpur residents.

The fact that the persons who raped and murdered the minor girl are still free has not settled well with them. Girls, women and parents who have daughters are angry and terrified at the same time. Outraged by what they called police incompetence, they took to the streets on Monday, demanding safety of girls and women and stringent laws against rape.

“The authorities have remained but a mute spectator while young girls and women are being raped and murdered,” said Bimala Joshi, a rally attendant in Mahedranagar. “Girls and women cannot walk freely without the fear of being sexually harassed these days. Parents fear sending their daughters to school.”

The Monday’s rally attendees had been further galvanized by the reports of police and the local administration pressuring the parents of Nirmala to cremate their daughter without any protest.

Nirmala’s father Yagya Raj had told the Post in an interview last week that the local administration had threatened him with criminal charge for protesting against his daughter’s rape and murder.

“They told me that I would be criminally responsible for any damage of properties and casualties if the protest over my daughter’s killing became violent,” the distraught father told the Post.

Nirmala was cremated on July 31, four days after her body was discovered, in a low-key funeral, and amid the presence of security personnel who were there to quell protests against the local administration.

Two incidents of attempted rape, in which both victims were minor girls, have been reported after Nirmala’s death.

Police said they were serious about ensuring safety of girls and women.

“Incidents of social crimes have increased in the recent days. People from all sides should work together to control these crimes,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Gyan Bahadur Sethi.

Rape accused boy attempts suicide in police custody

RUKUM: A gang-rape suspect attempted to commit suicide while in police custody in Rukum West on Sunday. The 16-year-old boy from Aathbiskot Municipality-9 tried to hang self in the loo using his shirt, police said. He was rescued and rushed to a Nepalgunj for treatment. Police said the suspect was arrested along with his 17  friend on Friday on charge of raping a 20-year-old woman. The District Court has remanded the duo to one week’s custody. 

Brother held for raping sister

DHADING: Police on Sunday arrested a 20-year-old man from Gajuri-2 in Dhading district on charge of raping his sister. The man is accused of repeatedly raping his 15-year-old sister for last four months, police said. He was arrested after the girl contacted a social organisation asking for aid.