Father Arrested for Raping Daughter, Burying Newborn in Jhapa

Jhapa. Police have arrested a defendant who buried the body of a newborn child, born from raping his own daughter, and had been absconding for three months, from Ilam. The defendant, involved in cases of incestuous rape and infanticide, was apprehended at Mantra Hotel in Fikkal Bazaar, Suryodaya Municipality Ward No. 10, Ilam, based on a special tip-off. According to Ranjan Awa, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Information Officer at the District Police Office, Jhapa, the defendant was arrested in coordination with the District Police Office, Ilam, while he was staying with his victimized daughter. This incident came to light in the month of Baishakh. On 2083 Baishakh 2, after a newborn's body was found buried in an empty plot of land in Jhiljhile, Jhapa, a police team from the Jhiljhile Area Police Office was dispatched to the scene. During the investigation, the victimized daughter initially stated that her own father had forcibly raped her and that, after the child was born, the body was buried as per her father's advice. Following the incident, a case was registered on Baishakh 2 for infanticide and on Baishakh 10 for incestuous rape, and an arrest warrant was obtained from the Jhapa District Court. Technical investigation revealed that the absconding defendant initially hid in Rolpa district. While a search was underway in coordination with Rolpa police, he fled from there as well, hiding in various places and arriving in Ilam on Jestha 3. Police stated that the arrested defendant's remand has been extended by the Jhapa District Court and further investigation is ongoing. The victimized daughter has been placed in the care of relatives at Aafant Nepal, Kakarbhitta.