Kathmandu, August 23

Lawmakers at the House of Representative today sought a parliamentary probe committee to look into the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta.

Lawmaker Deepak Prakash Bhatta, during special hour of the HoR meeting, said the Parliament should form a probe committee to investigate the case.

One of the alleged perpetrators behind the rape and murder of Panta was arrested from Kanchanpur district on Saturday. The arrested has been identified as Dilip Singh Bista of Khanna Chaurahi in Bhimdatta Municipality, Kanchanpur.

Bhatta said there was crime and rape in Kanchanpur and people were protesting, but we cannot say he or she is guilty from the road, we have to investigate. “Therefore, I request the Parliament to form a probe committee.”

Lawmaker Min Bahadur Bishwokarma said police had booked a mentally retarded person to protect the real culprits. He added, “Victims took to the streets seeking justice. The government is trying to protect the culprits.”

Lawmaker Mina Pandey accused the government of shielding real culprits.

Lawmaker Rangmati Shahi urged the government to pursue the real culprits and criticised its action over protesters. “There should be a proper investigation of this incident,” she said.

Lawmaker Ram Bahadur Bista also sought a proper investigation into the incident.

After the special hour of the HoR, lawmakers of Province 7 — Deepak Prakash Bhatta, Lekhraj Bhatta, Niru Devi Pal, Nar Bahadur Dhami, Bina Budathoki and Rajendra Rawal — separately met Speaker of the House Krishna Bahadur Mahara with requests to form a parliamentary probe committee.

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