KHOTANG, Sept 18: With the authorities so far failing to book those guilty in the rape and murder of Kanchanpur's 13-year-old Nirmala Panta, Nepal Women's Association Khotang led a demonstration against the government. Nirmala had gone missing on July 26 and her body was found on July 27.

The association led a corner meeting in Diktel demanding the arrest of the culprit(s). Ram Kumari Rai, chairperson of Nepal Women's Association Khotang, accused police of destroying the evidences and protecting the culprit(s).

With the objective of mounting pressure on the government to provide justice to Nirmala's parents, the association led a protest demonstration from Diktel's Ratnapark which converged into a rally at Hatdada.

Suman Babu Acharya of Nepali Congress, deputy chairperson of Nepal Women's Association Dilli Kumari Acharya, Nepali Congress Mahasamiti member Rabi Prakash Rai, and former chairperson of Hatdada Bishnu Kumar Rai strongly criticized the government for the failure to properly investigate into the rape and murder. Other local Nepali Congress leaders, and members of the Nepal Tarun Dal and Nepal Students' Union also participated in the demonstration.

 
• nirmala-panta
 
• khotang
 
• protest