SURKHET: A 16-year-old girl, who left home for tuition classes on Saturday morning, was found brutally raped and murdered in a community forest in Birendranagar, Surkhet.
The deceased has been identified as Inisha BK, a Grade 11 science student at Usha Balbatika School. Originally from Gurbhakot Municipality-6, the victim’s family had been residing in Birendranagar-1. Her father, Indra Bahadur BK, is currently serving in the Dubai military.
According to family sources, Inisha left home at 6:00 AM on Saturday (March 7) for her coaching classes, promising to return by 8:00 AM. When she failed to return and her phone remained switched off, her mother, Tila BK, contacted the school and teachers, only to find no trace of her daughter.
Later that morning, Tila received a call informing her that Inisha was lying unconscious in the Janajagaran Community Forest near Shahid Park.
Upon reaching the site, the scene was horrific. Inisha’s body was found in a ravine, unclothed and covered in blood, with signs of a violent struggle. Although she was rushed to the Provincial Hospital in Kalagaun, doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.
The District Police Office (DPO), Surkhet, has arrested four individuals in connection with the crime. Police confirmed that all four suspects are under the age of 18 and were classmates of the victim.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Spokesperson Mohan Jang Budhathapa told Khabarhub that preliminary investigations suggest the victim was lured under the pretext of a meeting, as there were no scheduled tuition classes that day.
“One of the suspects has claimed to be the victim’s boyfriend and alleged he sought help from his friends after she lost consciousness,” DSP Budhathapa said. “However, the site evidence shows signs of forced sexual intercourse and excessive bleeding. We have called in forensic experts from Bheri Hospital to assist with the post-mortem.”
Police are currently investigating the case under charges of homicide and gang rape.
The incident has sparked outrage among rights activists, highlighting the intersection of gender-based violence and caste discrimination.
Sunita Mainali, Executive Director of the Women’s Rehabilitation Center (WOREC), termed the incident a “vivid example of structural caste-based discrimination and patriarchal violence.” She criticized the state’s failure to ensure the safety of Dalit women and girls.
According to data from the Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO), Dalit girls are disproportionately targeted in such crimes, with nearly 80% of rape cases involving Dalit minors resulting in murder.
Due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the closure of airports, Inisha’s father remains stranded in Dubai and has been unable to secure a flight home to perform his daughter’s final rites.
The investigation is ongoing, and police have stated that technical analysis of mobile phones and forensic reports will provide further clarity on the sequence of events.
Comment