RAUTAHAT, August 3

Cases of violence against women have soared in Rautahat of late.

Three women were murdered over minor family disputes within 20 days in different places of the district.

Police said that family members, including husbands, were involved in the killings.

Sajara Khatun of Jatahara VDC was beaten to death by her family members on July 24. Her father-in-law had raised doubt regarding her character just after her husband Shesh Jamun, who was in India for foreign employment, arrived home. She was thrashed to death by her family members.

The family members have been on the run after the incident. The final rites were performed by her maternal family. A week prior to the incident, Usha Sha of Brahmapuri VDC was set on fire. Police had rescued her and rushed her to hospital. However, she succumbed to injuries.

According to her family members, her husband Lalu was in India when the incident took place. However, police suspect that Lalu was at home at the time of incident. The final rites were preformed by her maternal family. Lalu is said to be at large.

Likewise, Ranju Thakur of Pachharukhi VDC was killed by her husband Bali Thakur and other family members on July 5. All the family members, including Bali, have been at large after the incident.

Police had found Ranju’s body covered with a sari inside her house. The final rites were performed by her maternal family.

Inspector Nawaraj Khadka of District Police Office, Rautahat, said that minute investigation into all three murder cases was under way. He added that Nepal Police was working in coordination with the Indian police to nab the accused murderers. He assured that the culprits would soon be booked.

Local social worker Pusparaj Yadav said that daughter-in-laws were unsafe inside their houses after these three incidents in the district. He added that no woman activist or police had taken such cases seriously, which had motivated the culprits.