House panel to probe rape of mute woman

Kathmandu, July 6

The Parliamentary Committee on Social Justice and Human Rights today decided to investigate into the rape of a 35-year old deaf-mute woman in Kapilvastu district.

The victim, a permanent resident of Shivaraj Municipality ward number 10, Kapilvastu was allegedly gang raped by Armed Police Force men on June 12.

A meeting of the committee held at Singha Durbar today took a decision to this effect.

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

The victim, in sign language, has claimed that many other APF men were also involved in the rape. Police had recovered clothes, soap and sandals of APF men from the incident site.

The committee has summoned Minister for Home Affairs Shakti Basnet, Inspector General of Police Uprendra Kant Aryal and Inspector General of Armed Police Force Durja Kumar Rai for further inquiry into the case.

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

According to her sister-in-law Ram Dulari Tharu, they have not yet received any compensation or financial support from any organisation. “My sister-in-law said that there were around ten APF men involved in her rape but only two have been arrested while others are walking freely,” she said. She also demanded action against all those involved.