Kailali, November 29
The chairman of a ward of a rural municipality in Baitadi district has been arrested on the charge of mediating for the community settlement of a rape case.
The incident takes place just a few days after the cabinet endorsed the draft of an ordinance that criminalises community settlement of a rape case. The ordinance, however, has not come into effect awaiting the president’s enactment.
The police in the far-western hilly district have arrested Sher Singh Saud, the chairman of Sigas rural municipality-3, for making efforts for the community settlement of the rape of an 18-year-old girl in his neighbourhood in late June this year.
It has been revealed that the perpetrator and the survivor had reached an agreement that the perpetrator would give the victim a tola (around 12 grams) of gold within four and a half months to settle the case.
Three other locals–Rajendra Dhami, Narendra Dhami, and Gopal Dhami–have been arrested, according to DSP Narayan Prasad Adhikari, the District Police Office chief. Earlier last week, two persons were arrested in connection with the case.
The alleged mastermind of the case, Deepak Singh Dhami, is still on the run.
