The district court of Morang on Monday released Jivan Bhetwal, Amit Bhetwal, Sewika Bhetwal, Chandrakala Bhetwal and Ambika Bhetwal, who have been charged with thrashing Maya Sarki and smearing black on her face on a bail of Rs 7,000 each. [break]
Kamala Bhetwal, who was also arrested with them, was already released after submitting a bail of Rs 28,000.
Although police had booked 16 people in connection with the incident, only six were arrested. Ten others are absconding.
The arrested, all of them from Belbari, were booked under Public Offense Act, Caste-based discrimination and untouchability Act and Electronic Transactions Act. Any person convicted under Caste-Based Discrimination and Untochability Act may face a fine of Rs 25,000 or three years jail or both.
Maya was assaulted in public in July after she tried to lodge a written complaint with the police against Jivan, one of the five released on bail, on attempted rape charge. Manoj Biswokarma, a local journalist who helped Maya to file the complaint was also assaulted by Bhetwal´s family members and others. They had also garlanded the two with sandals.
The incident caused media hue and cry prompting the government to order proper investigation. Earlier, the National Dalit Commission (NDC) had termed the incident a result of "deep-rooted practice of caste-based discrimination."
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