KATHMANDU, Feb 21: Nirmala's mother Durga Devi has been closely watching the rape and murder case of Bhagarathi Bhatta. 'The accused denied attempts to rape, but he later confessed to the crime'. Subsequently, Bhagarathi's brother Shankar Bhatta filed a case against the suspect-- a minor. The investigation is on the right track it seems, she said, while adding that she is, however, hopeless about justice for her daughter Nirmala Panta, who was raped and murdered in 2018, 'as the government has not taken her complaint seriously'.

KATHMANDU, July 31: Durga Devi was getting ready for work at Bhimdatta Municipality when she received a call early this morning today. Eight police officers, against whom she had filed a case for tampering with evidence in the rape and murder of her 13-year-old daughter Nirmala Panta, got a clean chit from the district court yesterday. This is a rare case where the complainant celebrates victory of defendants. Durga Devi was happy to hear of the court verdict. “I am not aware of the details of the complaint back then, but a sense of guilt later bothered me,” she told Republica.

KATHMANDU, Nov 28: The 16 days of activism against gender-based violence is currently unfolding in over 180 countries, and Durga Devi from a small village in western Nepal feels the connection as she has been at the receiving end for so long.