Dan Singh Thada, 42, of Karekholaa, Birendranagar Municipality-13, struck his 41-year-old wife, Rabina Thapa, with a wooden baton and killed her on the night of July 26. He attacked her while she was asleep at around 2 a.m. Police arrested him on the spot. Thada retired five years ago from the position of warrant officer in the Nepali Army. On July 27, Provincial Hospital Surkhet conducted the post-mortem. The deceased had one son and three daughters. The son is in Dubai for employment, the eldest daughter is in Japan, while the middle and youngest daughters are in Surkhet and Dailekh.
Similarly, Chandra Bahadur Budhathoki, 32, killed his wife Devika Budhathoki, 30, by slitting her throat with a khukuri in Tatagaun of Chaurjahari Municipality–3, Rukum West on the night of July 1, 2025. Likewise, on May 4, 2025, Darshan Khatri, 28, a member of the Nepali Army, killed his 26-year-old wife, Prema Oli of Gurbhakot Municipality-8, by striking her with a stone at Jhingenara Khola in Bheriganga Municipality-12. These are just representative cases.
According to the Karnali Province Police Office in Surkhet, 41 people have been killed by husbands, relatives, or family members across the province’s 10 districts over the past three fiscal years. In the fiscal year 2022/2023, 10 people were killed by family members and relatives. The number rose to 22 in 2023/2024, while nine such killings were recorded up to July in 2024/2025. Among these, husbands killed their wives in nine cases in 2022/2023, nine cases in 2023/2024, and four cases in 2024/2025. In the fiscal year 2023/2024, there were two incidents in which wives killed their husbands, and one such incident in the fiscal year 2024/2025. The data over the past three years has shown that more women were killed by their husbands than by others. Similarly, INSEC recorded 36 killings by family members and others in Karnali Province in the Nepal Human Rights Yearbook 2024. In 2025, INSEC documented 27 such killings. Most of the victims were women.
Monitoring by the Human Rights Defenders
A woman was stabbed to death in Birendranagar Municipality–13, Karekhola, by her husband. Following the incident, INSEC and other human rights organizations based in Surkhet conducted a joint monitoring. Pabitra Shahi, Director of the Aawaj Organization, stated that crimes such as domestic violence and killings against women are increasing due to the state’s neglect and weak legal enforcement. She said that every year, women lose their lives at the hands of their husbands and relatives, but the state does not take the issue seriously. She further demanded a fair investigation into the incident and justice for the victim’s family.
Prakash Saru, Chairperson of the Federation of Non-Governmental Organizations in Surkhet, emphasized the need to receive prior information and take necessary consultations regarding incidents involving women and children in society. He stated that all organizations and the three levels of government must work together to reduce such incidents. It is essential to collect data on women and children at risk and provide awareness, protection, and training accordingly.
Sister Rosita from Navajyoti Center emphasized that the state must enact and enforce strict laws. Jarmaya Batha from Navajyoti Center stated that the government should implement awareness programs at the local level and take effective measures. Khagisara Wali, Secretary of the Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO), said that such incidents raise serious questions about the safety of women and vulnerable groups in society. She added, “These incidents should not be taken lightly. If the state’s role weakens, violence will increase further.” The monitoring team included representatives from INSEC, the Women Human Rights Defenders Network, and other organizations.