Bara, September 11: The Bara District Court has ordered the release of 10 people accused in the rape and murder case of three-year-old Garima Chaudhary. Progresh Chaudhary has been released on Rs 20,000 bail, while the other nine accused have been released on general date.
A bench headed by Judge Prakash Kumar Adhikari issued the order to release Progresh along with his family members and other accused persons. The court stated that there was not sufficient evidence to establish their involvement in the incident.
Those released include Progresh’s father Indrajit Chaudhary, mother Babita Chaudhary, wife Pushpa Chaudhary, sister Mamata Chaudhary, Sabita Chaudhary, Bindu Chaudhary, Tek Bahadur Thapa Magar, Navin BK and Shesh Hasmudin.
Police had filed charges against them for kidnapping, unlawful confinement, rape and murder based on a complaint lodged by Garima’s father, Manoj Chaudhary. They were released following the court’s order on Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, two juveniles accused in the case have been sent to a juvenile correction home for further proceedings. The two juveniles, surnamed Thapa and Khadka, were ordered to remain in the juvenile correction home until the case is finally decided.
According to police, the juvenile surnamed Thapa confessed to his involvement during the investigation. Police said he had stated that he gave Garima chocolate before raping and killing her. His statement was reportedly consistent with the condition of the crime scene and the body.
During the investigation, the same juvenile also mentioned the involvement of another juvenile. A video of the juvenile speaking with a doctor at the One-Stop Crisis Management Center of the Provincial Hospital in Kalaiya was later leaked and circulated on social media.
Police constable Kumar BK was detained for allegedly leaking the video. Legal proceedings have been initiated against him under the Individual Privacy Act 2018 and the Electronic Transactions Act 2006.
Garima, a three-year-old resident of Jitpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City–1, had gone missing on August 16. Her body was found on September 2 in an abandoned house approximately 100 meters south of her home. The incident triggered protests in Bara and other parts of the country, with people demanding justice for the child.
On September 6, Garima’s parents, Manoj and Manamati Chaudhary, held talks with government officials, including the Home Minister, Law Minister and Inspector General of Police. A three-point agreement was reached during the meeting.
Garima’s funeral was held on September 7 at the Pasaha River in Kalaiya.
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