Police Investigate Death of 16-Year-Old Girl in Surkhet, Four Minors Detained

On International Women’s Day, while Birendranagar, the capital of Karnali Province, was hosting various observances, the body of a 16-year-old girl, Inisa BK, lay at the provincial hospital morgue awaiting a post-mortem. Inisa, originally from Badakhola, Ward 6, Gurbhakot Municipality, was living in Ward 1 of Birendranagar.

She was discovered unconscious on the morning of March 7 in a community forest near Shaheed Park, Birendranagar-4. Local police rushed her to the Provincial Hospital in Kalagaun, where doctors pronounced her dead. Following the tragedy, her family lodged a complaint with the District Police Office, Surkhet, alleging that Inisa had been gang-raped and murdered. The complaint was officially registered on March 9, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohanjung Budha Thapa.

Preliminary investigations suggest that Inisa’s death followed sexual assault. Authorities have arrested four suspects, all minors under 18. A 16-year-old boy was detained on the afternoon of March 7, and three others were taken into custody the next day.

What Happened on March 7

Inisa left home around 6 am, telling her mother, Tila BK, that she was going to a tuition class and would return in two hours. Despite her mother reminding her of family travel plans, she insisted on going. She was a Grade 11 science student at Usha Balbatika School, aspiring to become a doctor.

By 9 am, Inisa had not returned, and her mother’s calls went unanswered. Shortly afterward, a call from an unknown number informed her that her daughter was lying unconscious in the forest near Shaheed Park. Upon arrival, Tila found her daughter’s body covered in blood, with visible bruises, torn hair, and disheveled clothing.

Inisa’s father, Indra Bahadur BK, a retired Nepali Army officer working in Dubai, had recently returned home but was back abroad at the time of the incident. The family, devastated by the loss, is struggling to cope, with Inisa’s mother’s health deteriorating due to shock and grief.

Investigation Underway

The family maintains that Inisa was gang-raped before being killed, while the 16-year-old suspect claims the death resulted from sexual contact that caused severe bleeding. Police have stated that the investigation is ongoing and all suspects are minors. Formal statements have not yet been recorded, and the autopsy report from the provincial hospital is pending.

A team of three medical specialists from Bheri Hospital, Nepalgunj, has been called to Surkhet for a second post-mortem and forensic examination. Human rights organizations and advocacy groups in the district have demanded a thorough and impartial investigation, emphasizing accountability for the perpetrators and condemning the crime as inhumane.

The family continues to seek justice, expressing concern over potential attempts to minimize responsibility for all suspects involved. Local authorities have pledged to investigate all angles to ensure a fair resolution.