After three days of peace in Mahendranagar, following the curfew imposed by local authority, fresh protests erupted on Saturday demanding justice for Nirmala Panta.

With no progress in the investigation into the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala even after 52 days, the local residents, activists, and groups again started their protests, demanding justice for the victim.

Nepal Student Union (NSU), the student wing of main opposition Nepali Congress, forced general strike (banda) in Kanchanpur district on Saturday, demanding the arrest of the guilty immediately.

The strike affected vehicular movements while market places in Mahendranagar and adjoining areas remained closed. NSU Vice-chairman Keshav Joshi said, “Our demand is to find the murderers of Nirmala. Our protest will continue until the authorities bring the guilty to book.” The NSU started the agitation on Thursday. The student protest rally prevented government vehicles from plying on the streets on Friday.

We are planning what type of protests to launch Sunday onwards, said Joshi.

Local residents and various social groups continue to hold their peaceful protests seeking justice for Nirmala.

Various women’s rights organisations, mothers’ groups and local residents have staged protest rallies after the police found the teenager’s dead body on July 27 in a sugarcane field on the border between wards 2 and 18. Local women wore black instead of the traditional red sarees and held a protest rally during Teej festival this Wednesday demanding justice for Nirmala.

 “The government should find the culprits at the earliest. It is misfortune as the authorities are clueless about who the culprits are,” said Helen Shrestha, a local resident. A protester died in police firing on August 24 and left more than 15 injured as the protests turned violent. Two of the injured are receiving treatment in hospital.