Victims Demand Justice at Maitighar Mandala

Kathmandu. Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu is known as a place to alert the government and demand justice. Currently, victims of various incidents are staging a sit-in protest here demanding justice.

Everyone protesting has their own pain. Some are suffering due to not receiving treatment expenses after an accident, while others are forced to live a life of humiliation after being raped. Victims are on the streets with banners displaying photos of the perpetrators, demanding justice in murder cases and long-standing legal disputes.

Devika Khanal from Inaruwa Municipality-6, Sunsari, has been protesting at Maitighar for 21 days. She alleges that Ward Chairman Suman Thapa did not take responsibility for her treatment after causing an accident in 2081 BS. She complains that although locals took her to the hospital after the accident, she did not receive the necessary support.

Stating that she became disabled due to the accident, she has demanded treatment expenses, compensation, and legal action against the perpetrator. She said she was forced to come to Maitighar to knock on the doors of the federal government after her pleas for justice at the local level and various other bodies went unheard.

She claims that the Chief District Officer also pressured her to settle the matter for five lakh rupees in collusion with Ward Chairman Thapa. She demanded an impartial investigation into the accident, action against the guilty, and compensation for the victim. Devika said, 'It has been 21 days since I started protesting at Maitighar demanding justice. But the government has not taken action against the criminal. Why has no action been taken? The Home Minister has just arrived, now there is hope in him. I am sitting on the street in hope of him.'

Similarly, Sharmila Shahi has been protesting at Maitighar for seven days, holding her three-month-old infant. Accusing the perpetrator of holding her captive and raping her, she has demanded that the perpetrator take responsibility for raising the child born from the rape.

The accused is an employee of the Nepal Police. He is currently in custody for trial in cases of rape and unlawful confinement. Shahi's demand is that the perpetrator's family should also bear the responsibility for the child's birth registration and future.

She said, 'Many people say, go to work. Where can I go to work leaving my small child? Who goes to work when they are a new mother of three months?'

On the other hand, Dalit rights activist Prakash Tamata has joined the protest demanding justice for Ajit Mijar, who lost his life due to an inter-caste marriage. According to him, Mijar from Kavre was murdered in Dhading for marrying outside his caste.

He alleged negligence on the part of the police administration in the incident and said that the victim's family has not received justice even after a decade. He is determined to continue protesting until Ajit receives justice.

Tamata said, 'The body, murdered and buried, has been at Teaching Hospital for 10 years. Those who killed Ajit Mijar for inter-caste marriage, the court has not given justice yet, and the police administration has not paid attention. How long will Dalits have to be killed because of inter-caste marriage? How long will we have to wait for justice?'

Krishnamaya Upreti is also protesting at Maitighar demanding justice in a rape case from 13 years ago. She complains that even the Supreme Court has not provided her with proper justice. She stated that Netra Prasad Timilsina raped her in 2070 BS.

She said she would continue to protest at Maitighar until she receives justice. She warned that if she does not get justice, she will commit suicide, and the court and the government should be held responsible. She argued that the situation of having to come to the streets for justice, abandoning her right to privacy, clearly shows the state of justice in Nepal.

She said, 'The person who is the new Chief Justice now, the verdict given by him on 21st Shrawan 2081 BS. While giving the verdict, he was misled by the defendant. He has made me guilty instead.' She demanded an end to such a situation, mentioning that she has faced humiliation everywhere.

Although the stories and pains of those protesting at Maitighar are different, their demand is the same: impartial justice. This voice raised on the streets has also entered the House of Representatives. In the meeting of the House of Representatives held on Tuesday, Harkaraj Rai, Chairman of the Shram Sanskriti Party, drew the government's attention to address the demands of the victims protesting with various demands.