Nepal Rape and Murder Case Reignites Death Penalty Debate

The rape and murder of a three-year-old girl in Nepal's Bara district (about 25 km from Raxaul in Bihar) has reignited calls for the restoration of the death penalty in the country. The body of the girl, who went missing from Jitpur-Simra on August 16, was found two days later in an abandoned house near her home. The incident has led to protests in Simra, Kathmandu, and other parts of the country. Police have named a 16-year-old boy from the neighbourhood as the main suspect and have detained nine people, widening the scope of the investigation. Questions are also being raised about the police response after the family reported her missing. The incident has taken over the proceedings of parliament. Ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) MP Afsana Banu has called for an amendment to Article 16 (2) of the Constitution, which prohibits the death penalty. She said no international treaty or law can be above the protection of civilians. Concerns over the rights of victims and justice for such heinous crimes should not be merely argued by lawmakers.