KATHMANDU, MARCH 24
It is appalling to note that 17 Dalits have lost lives even after the introduction of Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2011.
One of the harrowing stories was the murder of Nabaraj BK and his friends who were killed on the grounds of their caste in connection with the bid to tie knot, in Karnali.
Three Dalits have already lost lives this year.
In this backdrop, lawmakers expressed concern about ineffective implementation of the act even a decade after its passage. They expressed such concern during a discussion held by the HoR Committee on Law, Justice, and Human Rights on the status report of implementation of the act.
Similarly, Angira Pasi from Rupandehi was raped and murdered while Tikaram Nepali from Rukum had to face death while extending help for a love marriage.
As per the report, five Dalits died all because of ethnic discrimination in 2019. This year, Maya BK from Kailali was raped and murdered.
The list goes on - the victims are Resham Rashaili, Rupamati Kumari Das, Mana Sarki, Shreshya Sunar, Ajit Mijar and Laxmi Pariyar, Rajesh Nepali, Sangita Pariyar, Jhuma BK, Sete Damai, Shiva Shankar Das, and Manbire Sunar.
Time has come to think why so many Dalits had to face death, said Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Leelanath Shrestha.
He committed that all three layers of government would work in a planned manner to end racial discrimination.
Another lawmaker Laxman Lal Karna stressed the need to launch massive campaign against castebased discrimination across the country.
A version of this article appears in the print on March 25, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
