Kathmandu, October 6

Hundreds of protesters organised a rally in Kathmandu today demanding resignation of Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Inspector General of Nepal Police Sarbendra Khanal for failing to arrest those who raped and murdered Nirmala Panta.

Thirteen-year-old Nirmala of Bhimdatta Municipality, Kanchanpur, was raped and murdered on July 26. Seventy days after the incident, police are clueless. Failure to nab the culprits has sparked nationwide protests.

Protesters staged a rally from Maitighar to Baneshwor and later staged a sit-in at Baneshwor demanding the resignation of Home Minister Thapa and IGP Khanal. They shouted slogans against the home minister and IGP.

People from all walks of life who were informed about the protest programme through social media such as #JusticeForNirmala and #RageAgainstRape took part in the protest. Several rights activists had also appealed to the public to participate in the demonstration.

Supporters of Baburam Bhattarai-led Naya Shakti Party led by Manushi Yami Bhattarai also protested alongside the citizen-led protesters.

Protesters said police had intentionally botched up the investigation and destroyed evidences found at the crime scene.

HimaBista, one of the leading activists of the citizens-led campaign said, “Since the home minister has publicly said police had botched up the preliminary investigation and destroyed evidence, he does not have the moral right to continue with his job.  The IGP should also resign immediately.”

Similarly, activist Sharada Chanda of Kanchanpur, who had initiated the protest from the very first day, said, “Either the home minister is trying to protect the culprit(s) or he does not have any information about the case. He should therefore not hold office even for a minute.”  She said the government should also sack  IGP Khanal for failing to nab the culprit(s).

They said the investigation should now focus on those police officers guilty of destroying evidence and the Bam sisters should again be probed.

The Bam sisters were the last persons to see Nirmala on the day she was raped and murdered.

Protesters, including Nirmala’s parents have accused police of protecting the Bam sisters.

On Thursday, two student wings of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) had also submitted memorandum to Home Minister Thapa demanding resignation of IGP Khanal and investigation of the Bam sisters.