Kathmandu, April 27:

The Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD) today condemned the Ministry of Defence for issuing a statement in defence of the soldiers of the Royal Nepalese Army, who allegedly gangraped Sapana Gurung in Belbari bazaar yesterday and shot her dead. “It is regrettable that, instead of investigating and taking action against the guilty soldiers, it has tried to portray Gurung as a Maoist.”

Six civilians were killed and dozens injured when soldiers fired on an anti-RNA demonstration taken out yesterday.

“A respectable institution like the RNA has committed a disgraceful act by firing on demonstrators as their defence,” the forum said.

The FWLD has demanded the guilty be punished according to the law and compensation be provided to families of the victims and the injured.

Meanwhile, the Nepal Women’s Association also called for impartial investigation into the Belbari incident and piunishment to the guilty.