Women taking out a mass rally in Rajbiraj, the district headquarters of Saptari, in Nepal on March 26 to protest against growing cases of rape and sexual assaults. Photo: The Kathmandu Post

Women took out a mass rally in Rajbiraj, the district headquarters of Saptari in Nepal on Monday to protest against growing rape cases and sexual assaults, The Kathmandu Post reports.

Eight rape incidents were reported in the district in the past one month alone. The victims were as young as 13 years.

The rally participants called on the authorities to take stern action against persons who commit a heinous crime like rape, claiming that many rapists get off on light punishment.

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Expressing concern over growing rape cases in the district, Anita Devkota, chairperson of the Women Human Rights Defender Network, said rapists will be encouraged to commit the crime again if they are released from jail early. The police, the court and other authorities concerned should take rape crime seriously, she demanded.

Karuna Jha, chairperson of Dowry Free Mithila, claimed many rapists remain scot-free because of their political influence and financial status.

“Why is our law enforcement agency unwilling to capture and punish the rapists who have political and financial might? ” she said. “A person who commits a crime like rape should have no place in a civilised society.”

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