The victim's family has complained that they have not received justice due to the lack of implementation of the report on the incident in which a father and daughter committed suicide over not being granted citizenship.

The victim's family has complained that justice has not been served due to the lack of implementation of the 35-page report submitted by the government-formed investigation committee to the Home Secretary on Poush 3.

Anju Tharu of Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality-4, who was neglected by her husband, did not even get the share awarded by the court as the ward and district administration did not grant her citizenship. Unable to get citizenship and a share from her husband due to discrimination, Anju committed suicide at home on Kartik 22, while her father, 61-year-old Kanchha Tharu, who had been fighting for justice with her, also followed his daughter's path four days later.

Although the report submitted by the investigation committee mentioned that there were weaknesses from the ward to the administration to deprive Anju of citizenship, the report has not been implemented and work has not been taken forward. Experts say that even though her husband refused to obtain citizenship, the ward and administration should have granted citizenship on the basis that the court had determined that Anju was Anil Tharu's wife. However, to protect the ward chair of Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality-4, Nare Thapa, and the then district administration officials who deprived Anju of her citizenship, Anil Tharu has been sent to custody on Poush 23 for trial in the suicide abetment case.

Local Krishna Budhathoki said that the government has conducted a sham investigation to protect the people's representatives and administration officials who forced Anju to commit suicide by depriving her of citizenship. 'Just as the government hastily formed an investigation committee when the news broke, the government should implement the report and bring the culprits who forced the father and daughter to die to justice,' he said. He alleged that the sham investigation was conducted to mislead the victim's family into believing that justice would be given.
Hima Sunar, coordinator of the Civil Society Network, said that the state should take full responsibility for the upbringing of Anju's daughter, who was forced to die due to lack of justice. ‘Anju has died and her husband is now in prison, so the state should take care of the child,’ said coordinator Sunar. ‘The government should thoroughly investigate the report and take strict action against those who forced her to commit suicide by depriving her of citizenship.’

Anju’s seven-year-old daughter Anita Tharu is currently forced to live at her maternal uncle’s house. Anju’s brother Arun Tharu said that even after a month and a half since the Home Ministry’s investigation team returned with the assurance of justice, they have not received justice. ‘When the Home Ministry’s investigation team came to the house and learned about the incident, I had hoped for justice soon,’ he said. ‘Even after a month and a half since the investigation team returned, there has been no news.’ Now, he said, doubts have been raised about getting justice.

‘Citizenship discrimination against women: State did not give justice, father and daughter gave their lives’ was published in Kantipur Daily on Mangsir 19, after which Prime Minister Sushila Karki mentioned that her attention had been drawn to it.  On the Prime Minister’s directive, a three-member investigation committee was formed under the coordination of Suresh Panthi, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and included Deputy Secretary of Home Affairs Kulshekhar Aryal and Assistant Chief District Officer of Bardiya Bhandari. 

Ashok Kumar Bhandari, a member of the investigation committee and Assistant Chief District Officer of Bardiya, said that the 35-page report was submitted to the government after conducting an impartial investigation into the incident.  ‘The report mentions the weaknesses seen from the ward to the administration in depriving Anju of citizenship,’ he said, ‘The committee will investigate and submit a report, not implement it. Please check with the spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs on whether the report has been implemented or not.’

When contacted on Thursday, Home Ministry spokesperson Anand Kafle said that he would inform her about the implementation of the report submitted by the investigation committee. When contacted later, he did not get in touch. When contacted again on Friday, Home Ministry Information Officer Rama Acharya replied that she had no information on the matter.

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Badhaiyatal incident: Victim’s family worried over non-implementation of the investigation report