Rising incidents of sexual violence and forced labour in Kailali

Dhangadhi: Kailali has witnessed a troubling increase in cases of sexual violence and forced labour over the past year.

Recently, a disturbing incident came to light where a girl from Godawari Municipality fell victim to gang rape, allegedly after being lured into a nightclub by a romantic partner. The District Court of Kailali has reported a significant rise in such cases.

In the financial year 2080/81, 164 women filed complaints alleging rape. Additionally, 38 cases related to forced labor were registered. The victims range from teenagers to married women.

The District Court has heard 118 of the 164 extortion cases filed last year, with 46 remaining to be adjudicated. Moreover, seven cases of prostitution, 38 cases of forced labour, and 19 cases of child sexual abuse were registered during the same period.

Judge Dandapani Lamichhane of the District Court stated that acts involving force against an individual's will are classified as coercion. Police officials attribute the rise in such incidents to societal tolerance of perpetrators and a tendency for families to settle matters privately rather than pursuing legal action.

This increase in criminal activity highlights a broader issue of societal indifference towards the plight of women and suggests a need for more effective legal and social interventions.