3-yr-old’s rape-murder near Bihar border fuels death penalty debate in Nepal

A three-year-old girl's rape and murder near Nepal's border with Bihar sparked demands for the death penalty in parliament. The principal suspect is a 16-year-old boy, who, if convicted, would be sentenced under Nepal's juvenile justice law. Lawmakers called for constitutional changes to allow capital punishment for heinous crimes, but the government stated it could not introduce it without amending the Constitution.

The girl went missing on August 16 and her body was found two days later in an abandoned house near her home, leading to protests in Simara, Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal. Police identified the teen neighbour as the main suspect and arrested nine people. The issue dominated parliamentary proceedings, with lawmakers arguing that the victim's rights and justice should not be compromised for the safety of criminals.