World News
Rape and murder of toddler in Nepal triggers nationwide protests and law reform promises
Nine people have been arrested in Madhesh province as the government pledges to review serious offense laws following widespread outrage.
The short version
- Protests erupted across Nepal following the alleged rape and murder of a three-year-old girl in Madhesh province.
- Police have arrested nine people in connection with the crime, while facing scrutiny over a leaked social media video showing a teenage suspect in custody.
- The Nepalese government reached a written agreement with the victim's family to review laws governing serious offenses and erect a memorial for the child.
Key facts
- A three-year-old girl was found dead in Nepal's Madhesh province three days after she went missing.[BBC News]
- Nine individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, according to local police.[BBC News]
- Following demonstrations in Simara, government ministers signed a written agreement with the victim's family promising a review of laws on serious offenses.[BBC News]
- Bara District Chief Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra stated that disciplinary action was initiated against one police officer involved in leaking an interrogation video of a teenage suspect.[BBC News]
- Nepalese Police records show over 25,500 reports of rape and sexual abuse between July 2017 and July 2025, with more than 3,200 involving female victims under age 10.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unknown whether additional police officers were involved in the unauthorized leak of the suspect's interrogation video.[BBC News]
Sources
- Outrage in Nepal over rape and murder of three-year-old girlBBC News - World