Twenty-seven-year-old Roshni Jha was found dead in her home in Janakpurdham-4 on Thursday, with a bruise on her neck. Her family has alleged murder, stating that the condition of her body differed from what they had been told. They also claim she had been repeatedly harassed for dowry. Police have begun an investigation.
A well-known journalist from Janakpur faced severe harassment on social media after publishing news about a dispute between two religious communities. Members of one community targeted her online, beginning with negative comments that escalated to verbal abuse and threats of physical assault. The harassment became so intense that her family urged her to quit journalism. She appealed to police and relatives for help. She says the incident has left her mentally vulnerable.
Police arrested a 67-year-old man from Dhanusha for allegedly raping a seven-year-old girl. The assault occurred when the child was alone; locals apprehended the perpetrator and handed him to police. The girl underwent a medical examination at the Provincial Hospital in Janakpur. The accused is in custody as investigations proceed.
Police recently arrested several women from a Janakpur hotel on charges of engaging in illegal sexual activities. Social media users photographed the women and circulated the images online. One woman from Mahottari’s Mathihani village was socially harassed after being misidentified as one of the arrested women because of a resemblance. The confusion led to her and her family being publicly accused of illegal activity, leaving her mentally distressed. She has appealed to police, saying she can no longer live safely in her community.
These cases represent only a fraction of the growing incidents of violence and discrimination against women and children. Reports of technology-enabled abuse, in particular, are rising. Victims say the nature of violence remains the same, but the means have expanded.
Police Inspector Sonu Sah of the Madhes Province Police Office noted that although complaints related to violence against women are high in the province, patriarchal family structures, male-dominated household decision-making, and tendencies to protect men’s “honor” often lead to cases being settled or suppressed before investigation, preventing them from reaching the judicial process.
According to data from the Madhes Province Police Office for the current fiscal year, 213 cases of sexual violence have been registered across the province’s eight districts. These include 99 rape cases, 36 rape attempts, 33 polygamy cases, eight child marriages, seven witchcraft-related abuse cases, seven human trafficking cases, six illegal abortions, two caste-based untouchability incidents, two cases of unnatural sex, 12 cases of child sexual abuse, and two domestic violence cases.
Province-level statistics from the past three years show 4,922 cases registered in fiscal year 2022/23, 5,596 in 2023/24, 6,944 in 2024/25, and 1,806 domestic violence cases recorded by November of the current fiscal year.
According to Worec Nepal, 1,279 cases of violence against women were recorded nationwide this year: 341 in Koshi, 260 in Madhes, 76 in Sudurpaschim, 411 in Karnali (the highest), 88 in Bagmati, 91 in Lumbini, and just two in Gandaki. Age-wise, 9.9 percent of victims were under 18, 31.1 percent were aged 18–25, 30 percent were 26–35, 18 percent were 36–45, and 9.9 percent were above 46.
Technology has altered the forms of gender-based violence. Technology-enabled abuse has surged, creating a disturbing environment for women and girls. Despite its rising prevalence, very few victims seek legal recourse, police data shows.
In fiscal year 2024/25, 1,156 electronic crime cases were registered in Madhes Province, most involving Facebook. Police say actual cases far exceed reported ones. Inspector Sah notes that technology-assisted abuse—harassment, intimidation, insults, or threats via digital platforms—causes deep psychological harm despite lacking visible physical signs.
Women’s rights activist Renu Adhikari explains that even when physical harm is absent, online harassment can inflict severe mental damage. Persistent negative and discouraging comments create emotional violence, destabilizing victims and affecting physical well-being. She emphasizes the need for self-care and emotional management.
Advocate and women’s rights activist Rekha Jha says many victims remain unaware of available support systems. Even those who know often avoid filing complaints due to social pressures. She stresses the need for empowerment, wider dissemination of legal provisions, victim-friendly laws, strengthened safety and privacy mechanisms, and greater public awareness at the local level.
Nepal’s Constitution and legal system contain more than two dozen national and international commitments to promote gender equality and criminalize all forms of violence, discrimination, exploitation, and harmful practices against women. However, women’s rights activist Bina Singh says violence remains normalized in Nepali society. Perpetrators are shielded through political influence, support mechanisms are not victim-friendly, and victims face pressure to produce evidence.
Dalit rights activist Binod Mahara argues that legal mechanisms alone cannot reduce gender-based violence. He says collective responsibility is necessary: society must stop ignoring violence, stop blaming victims, and avoid creating divisions when addressing gender-based abuse. He calls for unified social engagement to build a society free from gender-based violence.
