KATHMANDU, JANUARY 8
Dozens of women rights activists from Nepalgunj are once again in Kathmandu staging protest for the third time in the past two-and-a-half years to pressure the government to find the people who 'abducted and murdered' Nirmala Kurmi, 52, who was last seen in 2012.
Activist Ruby Khan, along with 13 other women rights activists, have been staging indefinite sit-in protest and relay hunger strike at Maitighar since December 29. Today, the protestors lit lanterns in broad daylight in symbolic protest against the government for failing to nab the accused murderer and investigate the case.
Expressing solidarity with the protest today, medical reformist and orthopaedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC, along with a few members of civil society joined the protest. Addressing the protesters KC said the government's sympathy towards powerful corrupt person had encouraged violence against women in the country.
The protesters have accused Nepali Congress leader and provincial lawmaker Badshah Kurmi as the main person behind the abduction and murder of Kurmi with the motive of gaining her property.
The probe committee formed by the government, had on 14 October 2021, submitted its investigation report with the recommendation to arrest accused Badshah and two other accomplices and begin police investigation.
Seven accused in the case were arrested eventually only to be released shortly after no lead could be found in the case, while the main accused Badshah was never arrested.
Last year in October, the rights activists had walked 520 kilometres from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu seeking justice for Nirmala Kurmi, which had grabbed the entire nationals interest.
It is not sure when or how Kurmi died. Activists say that after Nirmala's husband died in 2005, the local leaders and men hatched a conspiracy to marry her off to an Indian National and eventually abducted and killed her to grab the 125 kathha of land. Her two sons aged 18 and 14 also died mysteriously in a span of ten days in November 2009, as per activists.
Recently, Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane had asked the protestors to quit street protest and support police in the investigation. The minister also sought the investigation report from police headquarters. Similarly, the police headquarters has formed a new probe committee under Central Investigation Bureau to investigate the case.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 9, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
