KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 29
Authorities have torn down 150 menstrual huts in two municipalities as part of a campaign to end the outlawed practice of chhaupadi, which forces menstruating women into isolation.
Police say 23 huts were removed in Bedkot and 127 in Krishnapur after the death of 32-year-old Kamala Aauji, who was fatally bitten by a snake while staying in a hut in late June. Local officials have warned of fines and legal action against those who fail to comply.
Bedkot Mayor Hemraj Ojha said the drive will resume after the Dashain-Tihar festivals, alongside awareness programs with schools, women's groups and civil society.
Nepal's criminal code mandates up to three months' imprisonment or a Rs 3,000 fine for enforcing chhaupadi, but the practice persists in rural areas despite the legal ban.
