BAJURA, JUNE 13

Bajura has, for the first time, been placed under the command of a woman police officer, with Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Shaileshwari Bohara taking charge as the district police chief.

According to the District Police Office, Bohara is the first woman to lead the office since its establishment. She assumed office on May 21 after being transferred from the Provincial Crime Coordination Branch by the Nepal Police Headquarters.

Since 1977, a total of 47 officers have headed the district police office, all of them men. Bohara has become the 48th chief and the first female officer to hold the position.

Born in Lamkichuha Municipality of Kailali, Bohara joined Nepal Police as an Inspector in 2013 and was promoted to DSP in 2023. She is regarded within the organisation as an experienced officer in criminal investigation and law enforcement coordination.

Local representatives and rights activists have welcomed her appointment, describing it as an important step towards greater gender representation in Nepal's security sector.

Deputy Mayor of Badimalika Municipality Nanda Thapa said the development goes beyond an administrative reshuffle, describing it as a significant step toward expanding gender representation within state security institutions. "A woman taking command in a security structure traditionally dominated by male leadership is, in itself, a message," she said, adding that women's rights advocates believe female leadership brings greater transparency, accountability, and integrity.

Bajura, one of Nepal's most geographically remote districts, faces a range of social challenges - including weak civic awareness, domestic violence, child marriage, violence against women, alcohol abuse, social disputes, and security issues in rural areas - that make the role of the police particularly sensitive. Women's rights activist Rukmani Shah said female leadership could make it easier for victims to come forward and could improve access to justice in such cases.

Following Bohara's arrival, local residents, women's rights activists, and other stakeholders have expressed confidence that community-police cooperation will become more effective, particularly in creating an environment where women and girls view the police office as a more approachable and trustworthy institution.

While women's participation within Nepal Police has grown in recent years, leadership at the district command level remains limited. Bajura's appointment of a woman commander is being viewed as a positive indicator of the practice of inclusive governance.

Bohara, however, faces no shortage of challenges - remote terrain, limited resources, political and social pressures, crime control in rural areas, and high public expectations all await the new leadership, which must now prove its effectiveness on the ground.

Chief District Officer Dorendra Niraula described her as a courageous and fearless police officer. "Working with her has been quite smooth. She has considerable experience in crime investigation and narcotics control," he said.

Early challenge in Lampata

Shortly after assuming office, DSP Bohara travelled to the remote Lampata area of Himali Rural Municipality-3 to investigate a series of violent incidents involving local residents and people from neighbouring Humla district. Lampata is among the farthest and most inaccessible villages in the district.

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The District Police Office said she reached Lampata on May 26. She spent several days assessing the situation before returning to district headquarters.

The visit followed incidents of assault and beatings on May 17 and May 19 involving locals from Humla. Bohara travelled to Lampata to assess the situation firsthand and returned on May 30. Despite the additional challenge the Lampata incident posed so soon after her arrival, she she has approached it as a challenge to be resolved and has been working toward that end.

Following her field visit, Bohara recommended to higher authorities that additional security presence was needed in the area. Himali Rural Municipality Chairperson Gobindra Bahadur Malla said her field monitoring directly facilitated the establishment of a temporary joint security base of the Armed Police Force and Nepal Police in Lampata.

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Meanwhile, cases have been filed against 23 individuals from Humla in connection with the Lampata incident, and arrest warrants have been issued by the District Court, Bajura. However, police have yet to apprehend the suspects, prompting continued protests by the Ranisain Struggle Committee demanding legal action.