Provincial Assembly Member Rekha Kumari Sharma Arrested in Kathmandu Over Child Labor Allegations

Kathmandu. Provincial Assembly member Rekha Kumari Sharma was arrested last night from Dhumbara in Kathmandu-4. The police team deployed from the Metropolitan Crime Investigation Office arrested her.

SSP Ramesh Thapa of the District Police Range, Kathmandu, told Ratopati that an investigation would commence after handing over Sharma, a proportional member from CPN (UML), to the investigation office. He stated, "We will proceed with the legal process once she is brought to us."

In Jestha of 2081 BS, a team from the Kathmandu Metropolitan City rescued a minor girl from the residence of Assembly member Sharma. Trainee students in the Kathmandu Metropolitan City were surveying children studying in community schools in Kathmandu whose parents were not with them. During this survey, upon visiting the school where the girl studied, it was discovered that she was being employed and subjected to labor exploitation.

After discovering the minor's dire condition, the Metropolitan City's task force rescued the girl and placed her in a shelter home. Subsequently, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City filed a complaint against Provincial Assembly member Sharma with the police. The police completed the investigation and submitted the report in the last week of Magh, 2081 BS. The then Joint Attorney of the District Government Attorney's Office, Kathmandu, decided not to press charges against Sharma. After this decision was endorsed by the Office of the Attorney General, Sharma was acquitted of the charges.

At that time, Balen Shah was the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. He had expressed disagreement with the decision of the Attorney General's Office on social media. At that time, Shah had written on social media, "Sorry little one, the government has made it so that no case will be filed against your abusers. Don't worry. Time will come. You and many children like you will have to study to understand society and to stop such discrimination, cover-ups of crime, and to hold the perpetrators accountable."

Sharma was arrested after Balendra Shah became the Prime Minister. Regarding the charges against Sharma, SP Pawan Bhattarai of the District Police Range, Kathmandu, said, "This was a matter that was previously investigated and pending. We will investigate her by obtaining a remand order from the court." SP Bhattarai stated that Sharma would be investigated under the Children's Act.

Joint Attorney Ramhari Sharma of the Kathmandu District Government Attorney's Office stated that if new evidence emerges, the decision not to press charges could be revisited for further investigation. He said, "We will decide how to proceed with the case once the police present the accused to us."

The survey conducted by the trainee students revealed that the minor girl had been working at Assembly member Sharma's house for six years. The minor girl stated that she was being beaten. She disclosed that she had to perform chores such as mopping, cooking, and watering plants at Sharma's house, adding that she was beaten with hands and pipes. She complained that she had not met her family for six years and was not allowed to go home even during Dashain.

After the rescue of his daughter, the minor's father came to Kathmandu and filed a habeas corpus petition in the Supreme Court. He petitioned for his daughter's release, claiming that she was forcibly taken into custody by the Metropolitan City, despite her being placed at Sharma's house for education with his "own advice." Supreme Court Justice Kumar Chudal wrote an opinion stating that the father had made no complaint and that the child was taken into custody by taking advantage of the absence of anyone else at the assembly member's house, ordering her release to the father's custody. Another Justice, Sunil Pokhrel, gave an opinion deeming the Metropolitan City's action lawful. Later, the Supreme Court paved the way for further investigation into the incident. However, due to political pressure, Sharma was not investigated.