Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls Remains a Challenge in Mahottari

Janakpurdham. Challenges are seen in controlling incidents of sexual violence against women and girls in Mahottari district. Police say that the number of complaints regarding such incidents to the police administration remains the same every year.

According to the District Police Office, Mahottari, 28 cases of rape were registered until the end of Chaitra in the current fiscal year (2081/082). Similarly, 9 cases of attempted rape and 6 cases of rape after abduction were registered.

In the fiscal year 2079/080, there were 40 such incidents, while in 2080/081, 30 incidents are recorded in the police data.

According to police data, 11 people have been arrested and charged in cases of rape in the current fiscal year, while 14 are still absconding. In cases of attempted rape, 6 people have been arrested, while 23 are on the absconding list. 5 people have been taken into custody in cases of abduction and rape, while 2 are still absconding.

According to advocate Vijaykumar Thakur, although incidents of sexual violence are increasing in society, some cases are registered as rape due to love affairs, marriage before reaching age, and family disputes. He accused the police of not providing victim-friendly treatment.

He stated that legal knowledge, moral education, family values, and social awareness are necessary to reduce sexual violence. He also mentioned that obscene content spread through mobile phones and social media is having a negative impact.

Women's rights activist Deepa Lama said that stricter laws are needed for heinous crimes like rape. According to her, victims find it difficult to get justice as the accused have a chance to escape based on political, economic, or influence. She believes that individuals committing such crimes should also be socially and politically boycotted.

Another activist, Saraswati Mishra, said that many victims are still unable to seek legal recourse through the police and courts due to social stigma, ethnic pressure, political influence, and economic incentives. She emphasized the need to bring individuals who try to mediate or suppress such incidents under the legal framework.

Police Superintendent of Mahottari District Police Office, Heramba Sharma, said that the police are taking such incidents seriously. He stated that as soon as information about an incident is received, the police actively investigate and proceed with legal procedures. He clarified that any sexual activity against someone's will is a crime.

Meanwhile, in many cases that reach the court, the claims are found to be unsubstantiated. According to the Mahottari District Court, out of 34 rape cases registered in the fiscal year 2081/082, 8 cases were decided as unsubstantiated, while only 2 cases were substantiated.

Similarly, 17 cases are still under consideration. 3 cases have been postponed, and 1 case has been partially substantiated. The court stated that the claims in 3 other cases have changed.

Likewise, out of 6 cases of attempted rape, 2 were substantiated, 3 were unsubstantiated, and 1 was partially substantiated. The court also stated that in 1 case related to rape mediation, the claim was unsubstantiated.

According to Dipendra Das, Assistant District Attorney at the Government Attorney's Office, Mahottari, in many cases, claims become unsubstantiated due to adverse testimonies, delayed complaints, and destruction of evidence. He also mentioned the problem of changing statements in cases arising from disputes after a love affair.