In April 2024, 13-year-old Navya* went missing from her home. Her parents revealed that she had a boyfriend, but when questioned by the police the boyfriend and his parents claimed to know nothing about her disappearance.
The police received some leads from neighbours who had recently seen Navya at the boyfriend’s house, but most were afraid to share information. The Kathmandu Justice Hub stepped in to assist the police and Navya’s family, and eventually a relative discovered Navya hiding in terror in a dark room inside a building under construction. Navya was safely taken to the Iocal police station.
The Justice Hub legal team assisted the prosecution against the boyfriend for child abduction and sexual assault, ensuring that his repeated requests for bail were rejected. The court finally found the accused guilty and sentenced him to twelve years in prison. The court also ordered the accused to pay compensation to Navya in the amount of 3,485 USD (approximately 466,000 Nepalese Rupees).
Navya’s ordeal highlights the importance of immediate and effective action in cases of child abduction and exploitation to insure a victim’s safe return and effective prosecution of perpetrators.
*Name changed to protect identity
