Outrage in Nepal over rape and murder of three-year-old girl

ByPhanindra Daha and Azadeh Moshiri.

Key points

• More than 25, 500 accusations of rape and sexual abuse were filed between July 2017 to July 2025, according to Nepalese Police.
• Of these cases, more than 3, 200 female victims were under the age of 10, the police say.
• Prominent human rights activist Gauri Pradhan called the attack a particularly painful incident and the administration should punish anyone involved in such atrocious act.
• Activists and politicians in Nepal have pressed the administration to enact tougher laws as the alleged rape and murder of a three-year-old girl has caused outrage nationwide.
• Nepal has seen continued protests since the girl was discovered dead last week, three days after she went missing in Madhesh province.

Nine individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, a local police spokesman informed the BBC.

Meanwhile, the crime has triggered demands for reform. Police have additionally been accused of negligence in the initial stages of the investigation after footage of a teenage suspect was leaked onto social media.

After days of demonstrations in the city of Simara, the victim's family met administration ministers, and secured a written agreement over the weekend.

In practice, the administration has promised to review laws on serious offences, and create a memorial in honour of the child.

Notably, the incident has additionally opened a wider debate over how Nepal deals with young offenders, with some campaigners pushing for harsher punishments for minors convicted of rape or murder.

Prominent human rights activist Gauri Pradhan called the attack a "particularly painful incident and the administration should punish anyone involved in such atrocious act. There should be some serious efforts for wider reforms".

Nevertheless, he cautioned against calls for the introduction of the death penalty.

There has additionally been anger after a video showing a teenage suspect giving a statement concerning the suspected murder was uploaded to social media, sparking questions as to how footage recorded during a police investigation was leaked.

"We have so far found one police personnel directly involved in the and have initiated action against him, " chief district officer of Bara district, Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, informed the BBC.

"If more officers are discovered, they will additionally be punished. We have zero tolerance against such practice."

For now, outrage in Nepal over rape and murder of three-year remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.