Krishna BK, 22, of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-3, was found dead in police custody on April 20. The deceased’s family has expressed serious suspicion over the incident and demanded an impartial judicial investigation. The deceased’s mother, Bindamaya BK., issued a press statement on April 22 claiming that her son’s death was not a “suicide” but the result of police torture.
According to the statement, Krishna BK was taken into custody on April 16 by the Satdobato Police Post on allegations of marrying an 18-year-old girl from Khotang district, which falls under child marriage. He was then reportedly sent to the Khurkot Area Police Office for mediation.
The family stated that they were only informed about the incident on April 18. According to the deceased’s mother, although he was initially arrested on child marriage charges, police later allegedly pressured and forcibly registered a case under rape charges.
“It is highly suspicious why a rape charge was filed when the case was initially about child marriage,” the statement reads.
The family has also alleged that Krishna was subjected to both mental and physical torture while in police custody and was pressured to confess to rape. Bindamaya BK said they were informed that the accused had shared such complaints with people who visited him in custody.
The police claim that Krishna committed suicide by hanging himself in the custody toilet using his shirt at around 4 PM on April 20. However, the family has rejected this claim. “A person cannot hang himself using an old shirt; such a claim is not credible,” said the deceased’s mother.
The family has further complained that they were not allowed to meet individuals connected to the deceased, were denied access to inspect the incident site, and were informed late about the death. According to the statement, the family was only informed at around 10 PM. The body is currently kept at the district hospital mortuary. The family has taken a stance that they will not proceed with post-mortem or funeral rites until a judicial investigation is conducted. However, they have also alleged that local authorities are pressuring them to quickly take the body for cremation.
Bindamaya BK also mentioned that her husband, Dal Bahadur BK, died by suicide nine months ago, and as a single woman, the treatment by the police has further raised suspicion.
The family has demanded the formation of an independent judicial commission to conduct an impartial investigation and called on the government and concerned authorities to take strict action against those responsible.