INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, September 23
A report made public by the National Human Rights Commission today revealed that a total of1,313 rape cases were
filed in the first seven months of fiscal 2018-19 from July 17 to February 15.
The report titled ‘Human Rights of Rape Victims and Police
Accountability to their Access to Justice& also revealed that of the total rape accused in the these cases, 152 (approximately 12 per cent)
were still at large.
According to the report, a total of273 rape cases were filed with police in Province 1, 169 cases in Province 2, 280 in
Province 3, 90 in Gandaki Province, 180 in Province 5, 65 in Karnali Province and 65 in Sudurpaschim Province.
In Province 1, eight per cent
rape-accused are absconding, in Province 2, 22 per cent are at large, 13 per cent rape-accused are at large in Province 3, 10 per cent in
Gandaki Province, 15 per cent in Province 5, 19 per cent in Karnali Province and 2 per cent in Sudurpaschim Province.
The report also shows
that of the total rape accused produced in the court, 22 were released on general date.
Making the report public, Anup Raj Sharma,
chairperson of NHRC, said that people in the country were still reluctant to file rape cases with police
&Police should work hard to win people trust and make them feel free toseek police help,& he said.
Sharma also said that of late, Nepal
Police had lost people trust due to failure to bring to book the culprits in rape cases and also due to some police personnel alleged
involvement in botching up investigation
He also said the reputation of Nepal Police had been spoiled due to increasing irregularities and anomalies in the organisation.
However,
refuting the allegations, Inspector General of Police Sarbendra Khanal said Nepal police had been able to win the trust of a large number of
people across the country through various drives and programmes such as Public-Police Partnership Programme
IGP Khanal also claimed that police had been successful in nabbing more rape accused in recent years
&We have 97 per cent success rate in nabbing the rape-accused,& he said.
It is important to note that the IGP statement contrasts with the
NHRC report which was prepared on the basis of inputs given by Nepal Police itself.
Mohna Ansari, member of the NHRC, said police were not
women-friendly and sensitive while registering rape cases, which had forced many rape victims and their families to remain silent and
reconcile with the perpetrators.
&Justice to rape victims will be possibleif women-friendly environment is ensured,& she said adding that
police must learn to respect the privacy of rape victims while conducting investigation.
The post More than 1,300 rape cases filed in seven
months: NHRC report appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
