Security chiefs assure action against culprits

Kathmandu, July 8

Chiefs of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force today assured the Parliament of taking appropriate action against the APF men, who were involved in gang rape of a 35-year old deaf woman in Chandrauta of Kapilvastu district.

The victim, a permanent resident of Chandrauta, Shivaraj Municipality ward no 10, Kapilvastu was gang raped by APF men on June 12 while she was grazing her buffaloes.

The Parliamentary Committee on Social Justice and Human Rights had summoned chiefs of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force to furnish details regarding the progress on investigation into the case.

Speaking at the committee’s meeting held in Singha Durbar, Inspector General of Police Upendra Kanta Aryal claimed that only two APF men were involved in the gang rape of the deaf-mute woman.

“We don’t have evidence of involvement of other police personnel,” he said, adding, “Since the woman is both deaf and mute, we are facing difficulties communicating with her to get more information about the incident.”

However, members of the committee have asked the police to identify all the culprits as the victim had stated that she was raped by 10 APF men.

Police have been investigating the case by taking into custody two APF men assistant head constable Raju Chaudhary and constable Lok Raj Awasthi from Bindhabasini APF Batallion.

IGP Aryal said Awasthi has already accepted the charge during interrogation.

Inspector General of Armed Police Durja Kumar Rai said the two APF men have already been suspended. Home Minister Shakti Basnet also pledged to take action against the culprits.

Meanwhile, the committee today directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to form a central investigation team to investigate into the case by hiring a psychologist to communicate with the rape victim.

The victim was discharged from Thapathali Hospital on June 24 after treatment.

According to her sister-in-law, Ram Dulari Tharu, her sister-in-law was recovering from the trauma gradually, but the rapists were moving freely.