SURKHET: Protests demanding justice for 16-year-old Inisa BK, who died after being found severely injured in a forest area of Birendranagar, Surkhet, have spread across several parts of the country, with students, activists, and civil society groups calling for a transparent investigation and strict punishment for those responsible.

On Friday, students of Usha Bal Vatika Secondary School in Birendranagar organized a march demanding an impartial probe. Carrying placards reading “Justice for Inisa” and “Punish the guilty,” the students marched from the school premises to the District Police Office in Surkhet, where they staged a sit-in protest. Demonstrators said the circumstances surrounding the student’s death appeared suspicious and urged authorities to reveal the full facts of the case.

Students from Usha Bal Vatika Secondary School in Surkhet protested at the gate of the District Police Office demanding justice on Friday. Photo credit: Jyotee Katuwal

The case has also triggered widespread public reaction on social media, where users across the country have expressed anger and grief while demanding accountability and justice for the teenager. The issue has rapidly gained national attention online, amplifying public pressure for a transparent investigation.

Similar demonstrations were held in Kathmandu, where activists and rights groups gathered at Maitighar Mandala demanding stronger legal action in cases of rape and violence against girls and women. Protesters called on the government to ensure strict punishment for perpetrators and to consider strengthening legal provisions to prevent such crimes.

Local residents and activists gathered in Kalikot on Friday to demand a fair investigation into the death of Inisha BK. Photo credit: Tula Ram Pandey/Facebook

Protests were also reported in Kalikot, where rights activists and local youth organized a demonstration in Manma Bazaar. The rally, coordinated by civil society groups including Hatemalo Aid Foundation, Nepal Tarun Dal, and the Women Human Rights Defenders Network, ended with the submission of a memorandum to the District Administration Office demanding an impartial investigation and accountability.

Student protests were also reported in Dang, where youths and school students organized a rally in Tulsipur, calling for stronger legal protection for girls and greater accountability in crimes involving sexual violence.

A civil society protest in Kathmandu calling for the protection of women and children following the death of 16-year-old Inisha BK. Photo courtesy: Nepal Photo Library

Several rights organizations involved in the demonstrations linked the case to previous high-profile killings of young women in Nepal that triggered nationwide outrage. Among them is the 2018 rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta in Kanchanpur, a case that led to months of protests but remains unresolved. Activists also cited the 2021 killing of 17-year-old Bhagirathi Bhatta in Baitadi, which sparked national debate about safety for schoolgirls. In addition, campaigners referred to the rape and murder of 16-year-old Niru BK in Kalikot, another case that rights groups say has not received adequate justice.

Civil society groups say these incidents reflect a pattern of delayed investigations and weak accountability in crimes involving girls and marginalized communities.

Authorities continue to investigate the death of Inisa, who was discovered unconscious and bleeding in the Janjagaran Community Forest area on March 7, while forensic examinations and police inquiries remain underway.

(With inputs from other district correspondents)