IT is quite distressing that Nepal still reports incidents of caste-based violence and discriminations despite its constitutional provisions and laws against such senseless practices. Three people have lost their lives in a fresh incident in Chaurjahari Municipality-8 of West Rukum. Nawaraj BK, 21, a resident of Bheri Municipality-4 in neighbouring Jajarkot district, had love affair with a girl belonging to the local Thakuri community of Chaurjahari Municipality-8. The couple is reported to have attempted to tie their nuptial knot earlier as well. But they had failed to do so because the girl's parents had no consent for marriage. As per the media reports, Nawaraj along with his 12 aides had gone to the girl's house on Saturday night to forcibly marry her. Being well aware about the existing caste-based disparities, Nawaraj's parents and the society had asked him not to get married with the girl from a so-called upper social status. But the youth was hell-bent on marrying the girl.

As Nawaraj and his team reached the girl's house and inform her parents that they were there to take her, the latter called their neighbours. The situation worsened when the relatives and neighbours of the girl began pelting stones at the so-called bridegroom and his aides indiscriminately. Then, the locals chased the strangers away. While running away, Nawaraj and some of his supporters even resorted to diving into the Bheri River to try to save their lives. But unfortunately, could not survive. The bodies of Nawaraj and his two aides were recovered from the Bheri River after some hours. Two of Nawaraj's team members have still gone missing. The very incident speaks volumes about the caste-based violence and discrimination prevalent in the Nepali society. Such inhumane acts are really a matter of shame for a civilised society. The local administration has already initiated its investigation into the heinous crime. Police have so far arrested more than one dozen suspects, including the girl's parents, neighbours and Ward chairman of Chaurjahari Municipality-8. Nawaraj's friends, who had gone to the girl's house, have also been rounded up for investigation.

The Federal Government has formed a committee to probe the incident. Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal' Tuesday announced the formation of the panel in this connection. While speaking at the National Assembly, Minister Thapa informed that the committee included an under-secretary, a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and representatives of the National Investigation Department and the office of the Attorney General as its members. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has mobilised a deep diver to find the bodies. The deep diver has also started searching for the bodies in the river. Preliminary police investigation has hinted that three died from the violence. In 2006, Nepal was declared as a nation free from untouchability and other caste-based discrimination. The Constitution of Nepal also guarantees people's rights against untouchability and discrimination as a fundamental right. These rights must be preserved to ensure that no one becomes a victim of any caste-based violence and discrimination. The existing laws must be enforced in an effective manner to check such crimes. Such incidents may be repeated even in the days to come if the offenders get scot-free.