Kathmandu: Police have arrested a man on the charge of raping a girl some eight years ago.
SSP Basanta Kunwar at the Metropolitan Police Crime Division said that Manoj Pandey was arrested from Swoyambhu on Saturday. He was arrested after the girl released a video claiming she was raped by Pandey in course of participating in a beauty pageant.
[Related: ‘I was just crying and feeling helpless’: Alleged rape victim reveals horrifying series of incidents ]
On Wednesday evening, several videos from a young woman appeared on TikTok where she shared her story of how she was assaulted and abused by an unnamed person who was the organizer of a beauty pageant in which she had participated around 2014.
The videos, which have gone viral on social media, have exposed how the victims of sexual abuse are forced to stay silent for years fearing reprisal and lack of faith in the judicial system.
Youths in Kathmandu have taken to the street demanding justice for the victim.
Earlier today, the Home Ministry urged one and all to help in investigating a video clip related to violence against women which being circulated on social media lately.
A probe committee has been formed and the government is committed to investigating and taking action against those involved in the matter, according to a statement issued by the Ministry on Saturday.
“A probe committee led by Senior Superintendent of Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar has been formed and it has already launched an investigation.
The Ministry urges all to help with the investigation,” read the statement issued by the Ministry’s Spokesperson Phanindra Mani Pokharel.
Other members of the probe committee are Superintendent of Police Krishna Koirala, Deputy Superintendent of Police Kopila Chudal, Deputy Superintendent of Police Hari Basnet, and Inspector Sapana Khadka.
Meanwhile, Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota had made a ruling to take action on voices relating to the matter raised by lawmakers in the session of the House of Representatives on Thursday, and the Ministry had said it had paid attention to the pressure and demonstrations, according to the statement.
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