Activist Ruby Khan has been on a life-threatening hunger strike for 18 days in Banke, demanding justice in the Nirmala Kurmi case and various incidents of violence against women. On Baishakh 15, police forcibly removed the women’s rights activists who were holding a sit-in and detained them. Ruby has been leading a movement seeking justice with a nine-point demand, and her health condition is deteriorating.
May 15, Kathmandu – For 18 days, activist Ruby Khan has remained on a life-threatening hunger strike. She, along with other activists, was peacefully demonstrating to demand justice for Nirmala Kurmi and other cases of violence against women. The police forcibly detained them in front of the District Administration Office in Banke on Baishakh 15 (April 28) after removing the protesters. Ruby began her hunger strike in custody from that day.
Sakina Sah, central member of the Women’s Rights Forum and president of Banke district, stated that since Baishakh 12 (April 25), women’s rights activists were holding a sit-in daily from 3 PM to 5 PM in front of the District Administration Office. She said the police removed banners on Baishakh 15, instructed them not to protest, and then took them into custody. Arrest warrants were issued against them on the same day.
The arrest warrant mentioned: “You are to be immediately arrested for investigation on the charge of disturbing public peace.” However, the activists maintained that they did not cause any disruption. “We were not involved in any violence; we sat peacefully,” said Sah, “yet we were accused of violating public peace.”
The issuance of the arrest warrant against Ruby has sparked criticism of the government on social media. Narayan Wagle, a former journalist and citizen movement advocate, questioned the government. Targeting Prime Minister Balendra Shah, he criticized the detention of Ruby, saying: “The parliament is not listening to us, and now the streets are being silenced too.”
“Citizen activist Ruby Khan has been issued an arrest warrant on charges of disturbing public peace. What justice will be served by arresting this Nepalgunj-based activist who has been demanding police accountability for years?” he asked on Facebook. “If the parliament refuses to listen, will the streets be suppressed as well?”
Ruby Khan, who remains on hunger strike, has reported a weakening health condition in phone contact. She noted that the strike is taking a toll on her health.
According to Sakina Sah, including Ruby, the women have protested six times over this issue so far, and this is Ruby’s fourth hunger strike. Despite repeated agreements from the government following previous protests, failure to implement them has led Ruby to once again choose the path of a life-threatening hunger strike.
