Rukum, February 5

Local women and girls today staged a protest rally in Rukum headquarters Khalanga against police’s failure to arrest those involved in the attempted rape and subsequent murder of 18-year-old Susmita Shah.

Shah was murdered while she was collecting firewood in a forest at Rukum’s Kholagaun on January 18. Participants of the rally warned of stern protests if the culprits were not booked within five days.

Devi Oli, chairperson of Interparty Women Network Rukum, flayed the police for their failure to bring the guilty to book. Women rights activists also accused the police of disrupting their rally.

“We wanted to hold a mass meeting at Kalikasthan after taking out a rally through various places, including the District Police Office. But, the police did not allow us to move ahead,” said woman rights activist Kalyani Khadka.

The body of the victim was found under a tree. Post-mortem of the deceased was conducted at District Hospital, Jajarkot, said Dr Dipak Pun. He said the post-mortem report suggested that the victim might have been killed after rape attempt.

DSP Rupesh Khadka, however, said police had launched an investigation into the incident and pledged to arrest the guilty soon. He also asked the locals to support police investigations.