Palpa district, Bagnaskali Rural Municipality–2 resident Gita Pandey, 29, who was living in Shankarnagar, Tilottama Municipality, died on April 19, while undergoing an abortion procedure. In connection with the incident, police arrested Sandhya Basnet, 30, originally from Kanchanpur district, Punarbas Municipality–1, and operator of Jone Pharmacy; 45-year-old Khagendra Pandey, originally from Syangja district, Kaligandaki Rural Municipality–4, and operator of Indulekha Health Clinic; and Nilaam Gharti Magar, 30, originally from Gulmi district, Dhurkot Rural Municipality–3, and an employee at Jone Pharmacy, on 7 Baisakh.
The victim’s family filed a complaint against the accused at the Area Police Office, Butwal, on April 20.
Similarly, Dr. BB Khati, operator of Khati Nursing Home located in Itabhatti, Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City–9, and Dr. Satish Rupakheti, a gynecologist working at Indulekha Health Clinic and originally from Kathmandu Metropolitan City–7, Chabahil, appeared voluntarily at the police office on April 20, according to DSP Nishant Shrivastava of the Area Police Office.
Family members and relatives staged a protest in front of Butwal Hospital Line demanding immediate arrest and action against those involved in the incident, and compensation for the bereaved family.
According to preliminary information, Pandey, who was regularly undergoing prenatal check-ups at Khati Nursing Home in Itabhatti, Butwal, was advised by doctors to terminate the pregnancy after it was found that the fetus had disabilities. Following this, the Pandey family came for the abortion procedure on April 19.
The deceased’s husband, Prakash Pandey, said during a press conference on 8 Baisakh that his wife was brought to Butwal based on medical advice for abortion due to fetal complications, but she died due to alleged negligence during treatment, and he urged action against those responsible and justice for the family.
According to Pandey, when complications were detected in the approximately 12-week pregnancy, he brought his wife to Butwal on 6 Baisakh. Initially, she was taken to Khati Nursing Home in Itabhatti, where health workers attempted to induce abortion using medication. When it was unsuccessful, she was taken to Jone Pharmacy and Indulekha Clinic at Butwal Hospital Line, where medicines were again administered. However, her condition further deteriorated, and she was taken to Lumbini City Hospital, where doctors declared her dead upon arrival.
The family has stated that the exact cause of death is still unclear and has demanded strict action against those involved in the treatment. They also allege that medical documents related to the treatment have been withheld by Jone Pharmacy, raising concerns about possible destruction of evidence. They have urged concerned authorities to conduct an impartial investigation and bring the guilty to justice. Relatives had also padlocked and protested at the concerned clinics on April 21.
The body has been kept at the mortuary of Lumbini Provincial Hospital. The deceased’s aunt-in-law, Manju Basyal, stated that they will not proceed further until the cause of death is determined, the accused are punished, and the family receives relief and compensation.
DSP Nishant Shrivastava, chief of the Area Police Office Butwal, stated that those arrested have been remanded for three days by the District Court for further investigation, and added that “if anyone is found involved in the incident, they will be brought under legal action.”