KATHMANDU, April 3: Nepal may have strict laws on paper, but the reality on the ground tells a different story—one where society appears increasingly brutal and girls remain unsafe. For many victims, justice is not just delayed; it feels out of reach. Families of young girls whose lives were cut short continue to wander between government offices and courtrooms, clinging to fading hope.
From Nirmala Pant to Inisha BK, the pattern is painfully familiar. The cases change, the outrage repeats, but justice rarely follows.
“We still have hope in the new government, but years of demanding justice have left us weary. Now only a faint glimmer of expectation remains,” say victims’ families.
The recent case of 16-year-old Inisha BK has once again shaken the nation. Originally from Badakholi, Gurbhakot Municipality-6 and later residing in Birendranagar Municipality-1, she was raped and murdered. On March 30, the District Court, Surkhet ordered that four minors arrested in connection with the case be sent to juvenile detention for trial. Her family received her body on April 1—27 days after the incident.
The Juvenile Bench of District Court, Surkhet, chaired by Judge Deepak Dhakal instructed that the accused be kept in a juvenile rehabilitation center while the case proceeds. Based on the autopsy report, the court concluded that Inisha had been subjected to extreme sexual violence, with death caused by severe injuries and excessive bleeding. The court also noted that this finding contradicted one of the accused’s claims that the act was consensual.
The crime took place on March 7. Inisha, a Grade 11 student, had left her home to attend class at a school in Birendranagar Municipality-5. She was later found dead in the Janajagaran Community Forest near Shahid Park in Birendranagar Municipality-4. Her rape and murder quickly turned into a national issue, sparking protests and reviving memories of Nirmala Pant.
Break taboos to reinstate rape victims
On July 26, 2018, 13-year-old Nirmala Pant went missing from Bheemdutta Municipality and was found dead the next day. Eight years on, her killers remain unidentified. Since then, Nepal has seen more than six home ministers, multiple police chiefs, six investigation committees, more than 100 DNA tests, and questioning of over 600 individuals yet the case remains unresolved.
The numbers are equally alarming. In the past eight fiscal years (FY) alone, 45 girls have been raped and murdered. Police records show that 11 such cases were recorded in FY 2018/19, two in FY 2019/20, four in FY 2020/21, nine in FY 2021/22, five in FY 2022/23, five in FY 2023/24, four in FY 2024/25, and five in FY 2025/26. Despite this, there has been no significant decline in such crimes.
Even after eight years, Nirmala Pant has not received justice. The formation of the new government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah on March 27 has reignited national debate over her case. With Sudan Gurung, emerging from the Gen-Z movement, appointed as Minister for Home Affairs, Nirmala’s family feels a renewed sense of hope.
Her mother, Durga Devi Pant, said: “With the new government, hope has blossomed again. We expect the new administration to investigate my daughter’s case from the beginning, identify the culprits, and enforce strict punishment.” She added, “Evidence was not properly preserved from the start, and the investigation was ineffective. If evidence had been collected properly, justice could have been delivered long ago. It is still hard to trust, but we hope the new leadership will finally open the doors to justice.”
Nirmala Pant’s rape and murder is no longer just a criminal case—it has become a symbol of deeper institutional failure. Despite changes in government under leaders such as KP Oli, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the truth has remained buried.
Nepal Police Spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General Abi Narayan Kafle confirmed that investigations into unresolved cases, including Nirmala’s, are ongoing. “Our 15-member special team is continuously reviewing and analyzing old evidence. Open borders, delayed reporting, and professional criminals leaving no traces make these investigations particularly challenging,” he said.
Former Deputy Inspector General Hemanta Malla believes the problem began at the very start. “At that time, the crime scene was not secured, essential evidence was not collected, and investigative protocols were ignored, which prevented timely justice. Even though rape-murder cases often yield multiple pieces of evidence, in Nirmala’s case, not a single strong piece was preserved. Lack of skilled personnel was a major weakness,” he said.
Rights activist Ruby Khan pointed to a deeper systemic failure. “The state’s system fails in cases of rape and murder. Even preventive measures before crimes occur are ignored. Reports on potential risks are often treated lightly. The state’s preparation is weak. Criminals are becoming bolder. When rape suspects are granted bail, it gives them the impression they will get away with it, weakening society’s faith in the law. Life imprisonment should mean life imprisonment. Allowing release after 20 years does not convey a sense of justice,” she said.
Government lawyers, however, argue that the law itself is not weak. “In Nepal, proven cases of rape and murder carry the maximum punishment of life imprisonment under the Constitution. The issue lies in investigation and evidence collection. When investigations are scientific and evidence-based, offenders cannot escape justice,” they say.
Police data shows that of the 45 victims over the past eight years, 14 were from Dalit communities, accounting for 31 percent. Victims were from districts including Surkhet, Kailali, Khotang, and Bajhang, highlighting weaker access to security and justice in rural and marginalized areas.
Police Spokesperson Kafle emphasized: “These crimes are not motivated by caste or community. Education and awareness are lacking, which often results in incidents being hidden.”
Hemant Malla added: “It is not accurate to say crimes are targeting Dalits. These incidents happen because of poverty, limited access to education, children lacking self-defense and risk awareness, and vulnerability to coercion.”
Dr Tikaram Pokharel, Spokesperson at National Human Rights Commission, said: “When police investigate effectively, justice progresses. Some delays occur when police initially refuse to register complaints, but when we intervene, complaints have been successfully filed.” He added, “We do not conduct direct investigations, so ultimately, it depends on the willingness and initiative of the police.”
The government has decided to amend laws to remove ambiguities in cases of rape, rape and murder, sexual violence, and crimes involving children. Newly appointed Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam stated: “As mandated, for heinous crimes such as rape, rape and murder, sexual violence, and crimes involving children, study committees will identify obstacles in existing laws and recommend amendments to ensure swift justice for victims and punishment for offenders. Relevant laws, including the Criminal Code, will be revised accordingly.”
