Kathmandu, September 11
The Bara District Court has ordered two juveniles to be sent to a child correction home for trial in the abduction, rape and murder case of 12-year-old Garima Chaudhary of Simara, while releasing 10 other accused on bail.
A bench of Judge Prakash Kumar Adhikari issued the order on September 9, directing that the two juveniles be kept at a child correction home pending trial.
According to the court order, the decision was based on evidence including statements collected during the investigation, the post-mortem report, medical examination, DNA test and psychosocial counselling report.
The court said there were sufficient grounds to believe that the two juveniles could face punishment under the charges against them and ordered the case to proceed to trial.
The court has also ordered the concerned authorities to provide Rs 200,000 in interim compensation to the victim’s family from the Victim Relief Fund.
10 other accused released
On Thursday, the same court ordered 10 other defendants in the case to be released while proceedings continue.
Progresh (Purgesh) Chaudhary of Jitpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City-1 was released on Rs 20,000 bail, while the other nine were released on general date.
Those released on general date include Progresh’s father Indrajit, mother Babita, wife Pushpa, sister Mamata, as well as Sabita Chaudhary, Bindu Chaudhary, Tek Bahadur Thapamagar, Nabin BK and Shesh Hasuddin.
The court said it did not find sufficient evidence establishing their involvement in the crime.
Police had filed charges against the accused based on a complaint lodged by Garima’s father, Manoj Chaudhary, accusing them of abduction, unlawful confinement, rape and murder.
Garima Chaudhary disappeared while playing
Garima Chaudhary went missing on August 16 after going to play at the house of Progresh Chaudhary in Jitpur Simara-1.
Her body was found two days later, on August 18, at a house in Bhaktinagar.
The case triggered widespread public outrage, with demands for severe punishment for those responsible. Following a three-point agreement with the government on August 23, Garima’s family received her body.
The family had named 12 people, including the two juveniles, as defendants in the case.
