KATHMANDU, June 15: Justice has been demanded for Niharika Rajput who is said to be a rape survivor.  

Niharika has been on a hunger strike at local Basantapur Dabali for the past six days accusing one Shibaraj Shrestha of Bhimeshwor Municipality-3, Dhanusha, of drugging, raping and impregnating her while she was 17.  

Speaking in a meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) today, former Minister and CPN-UML lawmaker Thammaya Thapa drew the government’s attention toward the case. As Thapa said, the government had failed to pay heed to the woman’s condition and her demands.  

“Niharika has been on strike for six days, she is crying for justice from the State, but the government is yet to pay attention to her cry for justice,” Thapa said. 

The woman accused the police administration of weakening her case from the beginning.  As she said, she was denied justice at the District Court, Dhanusha which gave a clean chit to her ‘rapist’ citing 'insufficient' evidence.

A DNA test of her 21-months-old child and the hearing of a lawsuit registered at the High Court, Janakpaur four months ago at the earliest are among the demands put forth by the Rajput.  She moved the High Court to challenge the district court’s verdict in the case.  

The lawmaker expressed her concerns over rising cases of violence including rape and murder against women, and demanded stern action against the perpetrators. 

Likewise, lawmaker Rajendra Prasad Lingden of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party said the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) was passed by a majority, bringing the nation on the verge of trouble.  

He demanded the government not entertain any foreign agreement that would harm the nation. 

He was of the view that an independent election government be formed to hold the upcoming federal and provincial elections fairly and impartially.

 
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