DHANGADHI: Protests have been on-going in Bhimdattanagar of Kanchanpur district seeking justice for Nirmala Panta.

Protests have continued in the municipality today as well. Deputy Superintendent of Police at Kanchanpur District Police Office, Krishna Raj Ojha said, the protests have been led by Nepal Students' Union for the past one week.

Participation of Nirmala's parents -- who returned from the capital city only three days back -- is also seen at the protests. They had gone to Kathmandu seeking justice for their daughter.

Likewise, protests demanding justice for Nirmala with slogans against the government have been taking place in Dipayal of Doti, and Attariya and Masuriya of Kailali, among other places.

Meanwhile, police have lost the trust of locals in Bhimdatta Municipality after the brutal rape and murder of Nirmala. They have shown reservation in talking to police personnel. According to DSP Ojha, there have been difficulties in conducting the investigation because locals are unwilling to talk to the police.

It has been learnt that the locals are hesitant to talk to police after they arrested and tortured some of the people including Dilip Singh Bista, who was falsely accused of the rape and murder.

The investigation team from District Police Office, Kanchanpur and a team from the Central Investigation Bureau are working in coordination to carry out the investigation, DSP Ojha said.

However, no notable progress has been visible so far.