Student wings of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) on Thursday vociferously demanded the dismissal of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sarbendra Khanal over Nepal Police’s lackadaisical approach and failure to arrest the culprits involved in Nirmala Pant’s rape and murder.

Student wings - All Nepal National Independent Students Union (ANNISU) and All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) - met with Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa on Thursday and submitted a memorandum demanding the dismissal of IGP Khanal, the major point of their seven-point demands.

Citing his incompetent leadership in investigating Nirmala Pant’s rape and murder as well as other criminal cases, the student unions demanded the immediate removal of Khanal. This is first time that an allied organisation of the ruling party has demanded the resignation of the police chief.

Speaking to the Post, ANNISU Chairperson Ranjit Tamang said, “IGP Khanal has been unable to prove his leadership. The investigating officers were found mishandling the evidences of the crime. No action has been taken against the accused officers.”

The student’s organisations have also demanded the government to re-investigate the case of Bam sisters - Babita Bam and Roshani Bam - as Nirmala was seen with them for the last time.ANNFSU Chairperson Nabina Lama told the Post, “The lust for power, money, personal relations and politics has made the police force rotten from inside. The lack of leadership and failure to rise above such lust has affected the justice for general public.”

The student leaders also demanded making public the probe committee report, submitted by Joint Secretary Hari Prasad Mainali, and making harsh the punishment for rape crimes in existing laws to deter people from doing such heinous crime. “The cases of violence like rape and acid-attack over women and children are increasing as the country’s laws lack stringent punishments. Chemical castration can be an option for the government in the current situation,” said Nabina Lama, a lawmaker for the CPN.

Countries like India, Russia, South Korea, Australia and the United States among various others perform Chemical Castration over rapists.The Mainali probe panel had submitted its report to Minister Thapa on September 25. Although the report highlights the glaring errors of the police investigation into the crime, it does not mention how the rape and murder happened.While receiving the memorandum from the student wings, Home Minister Thapa assured them of releasing the report in the public domain soon.

“We have taken the rape and murder case of Nirmala seriously and the investigation is going on efficiently. Regarding the report, it will be made public after it is discussed in the Cabinet,” Minister Thapa said.Meanwhile, the group of activists also protested in front of the Southern gate of Singha Durbar, on Thursday, demanding ‘Justice for Nirmala’. They had also demanded resignation of Home Minister Thapa as the culprits have not been arrested.