NHRC must complete its investigation into Nirmala Panta rape and murder at the earliest and make its report public

The government, its law and order arm, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), and its law enforcement agency, Nepal Police, have muddied their image by failing to solve Nirmala Panta rape and murder case even though it has been more than two months since the body of the 13-year-old girl was found in a sugarcane field in Kanchanpur. Nothing much remains to be said about the bungling the police department, its line ministry and the home minister have made, but still fresh promises that they would eventually nab the culprit(s) are nothing but a new low in rodomontade. In such a situation—when police image has fallen spectacularly and the government has taken a very lackadaisical approach (we have already argued in this space that investigations so far have proved to be to be a sham)—the general public has pinned hopes on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). And rightly so, for the constitution says: “It shall be the duty of the National Human Rights Commission to respect, protect and promote human rights and ensure effective enforcement thereof.”

But the rights watchdog too seems to be groping in the dark. The NHRC had launched its own independent investigation into Nirmala rape and murder case less than a week after her body was found on July 26. But it is yet to come up with a report. The snail-paced investigation has raised serious questions on “competence and autonomy” of the constitutional body. NHRC’s investigation and report are of even more importance, for MoHA has kept an earlier report—submitted by a joint probe panel led by a joint secretary on September 25—under wraps. Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa had admitted in Parliament that the report said the investigation was botched from the very beginning and that there were serious lapses on the part of Kanchanpur District Police which was then under the leadership of SP Dilli Raj Bista. SP Bista and some other police officials in question remain suspended today—not in custody though.

Nirmala now has become a symbol of crusade against sexual violence and stands for all those who have fallen victims to sexual predators. This case is about the fight against the nonchalant attitude the state often shows towards heinous crimes like sexual violence and rape. This is also about justice and human rights. Public’s persistent calls for justice to Nirmala now have become a movement which demands upholding of human rights. It is also a movement that seeks to lay bare how politicians and police often tend to work hand in glove to protect criminals. The NHRC, with powers vested in it by the constitution, hence could have done more than it has done so far in this case. It does not even seem committal on making public the details of its report whenever it is finalised. A commissioner’s statement that unanimity among all five members will be required for making the report public smacks of the same. The NHRC should complete the investigation as early as possible and make its report public. Justice delayed is justice denied. A lot of wrongs have already been made. The rights watchdog must step up to the plate and strive to ensure justice and protect human rights. It’s time to right the wrong.

An ad hoc plan

The government has just started repairing an alternative road to the Capital from Dharke of Dhading, keeping in mind the festive season when thousands of people leave the Kathmandu Valley for their hometowns to celebrate Dashain. As the 25-km road section from Naubise to Nagdhunga often sees hours-long traffic jams due to heavy presence of vehicles, the government has started repairing the Dharke-Dhading-Sitapaila rural road, which, the officials believe, will ease traffic movement on the Naubise-Nagdhunga section of Tribhuvan Highway.

However, loaded trucks and big buses cannot ply the 23-km long Dharke-Dhading-Sitapaila rural and narrow road which was not designed for heavy vehicles. Only private and light vehicles can ply the road provided that it is repaired well before Dashain. Even if light vehicles are diverted towards the rural road, it will not resolve the problem of prolonged traffic jam on the Naubise-Nagdhunga section of the highway. The government must widen the Dharke-Dhading-Sitapaila road so that it can be used even during rainy season. The government often comes up with an ad hoc plan at the eleventh hour when it comes under tremendous pressure from the general public.