Five months ago, Nepali were traumatized from the bone-chilling rape and murder case of Samjhana BK. The melancholy of the horrifying incident with twelve years old girl is still ravaging the mindset of people.

On Wednesday, February 3, Bhagirathi Bhatta, 17, from Baitadi, was raped and brutally killed – returning home from school. The case has sparked a debate on women’s security in the country – yet another case is adding piles on the misery.

Bhatta was studying in the 12th grade. As per her daily schedule, she went to school on Wednesday. After her classes, she was going back. According to the locals, Bhatta was spotted around 2 pm at Kochalek, nearby her school. However, she never returned home.

Her body was found in the Tawalek Community Forest on Thursday. Some local girls – from Bhatta’s school – saw her body inside the jungle. The victim’s Uncle said, “her body was half-naked, lying in the roadside of the forest, covered with bloodstains on genitals, and wounded in hands and neck.”

Police Says, Possible Rape Case

Nepal Police has not clarified that it is a rape case. After finding the victim’s body, Baitadi District Police and Central Investigation Bureau led team assisted with sniffer dogs to gather the evidence.

Furthermore, a senior officer has said that the culprit(s) will not get any chances to escape. This incident will not be like the Nirmala Panta’s rape and murder investigation. The officer has also assured that the perpetrator(s) will be caught as soon as possible.

On Saturday, the victim’s body was taken to Baitadi District Hospital for postmortem. The preliminary investigations tilt towards murder. Meanwhile, the district hospital has not ruled out the possibility of gangrape – but the administration has not clearly pointed out this issue.

Bhagirathi, A Mother’s Hope Lost

Bhagirathi’s mother lost her husband two months ago. He was a kidney patient. After her husband’s death, Bhagirathi was her only hope.

Bhagirathi’s brother currently works in Delhi. After getting the information about his sister’s death, he came to Nepal.

The victim’s mother is in white clothes; she had never imagined what will happen on Wednesday with her daughter. Bhagirathi was her support during the sad times. However, her support is no more. She cannot mourn, neither can she cry. Who could imagine this brutality to their son/daughter?

Read More: Are We Normalizing Rape Culture? From Victim To Victory, where Do We Stand?

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Kathmandu Tribune Staff

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