Nepal

Ruby Khan calls off hunger strike

KathmanduPati October 19, 2021

KATHMANDU – Human rights activist Ruby Khan of Nepalgunj has broken her hunger strike after an agreement was reached with the government to immediately start an investigation into the murder of Nirmala Kurmi of Banke and the disappearance of Nankunni Dhobi.

A six-member committee headed by Home Ministry Joint Secretary Hiralal Regmi will investigate into the incident. Khan had been on a hunger strike for 12 days demanding justice from the government in the case of Dhobi’s death and Kurmi’s disappearance. Home Ministry spokesperson Fanindra Mani Pokharel and former NHRC commissioner Mohna Ansari served juice to break the fast of Khan.

Home Spokesperson Pokharel said that an agreement has been reached to prepare and submit a report on the incident within seven days. Before breaking the hunger strike, Khan said that the agreement reached with the government was a victory for all women and that she was confident that the committee would bring out the truth. Khan, who arrived in Kathmandu after travelling for 20 days on foot from Banke district, started the hunger strike demanding an investigation into the incident.