Surkhet, March 29: The District Public Prosecutor’s Office Surkhet has filed a charge sheet in court in connection with the murder of Inisha Bik, accusing four minors of serious crimes including rape and duty-related killing.

According to District Attorney Karna Bahadur Mahat, the charge sheet seeks imprisonment of 10 to 12 years and a fine of Rs 500,000 for rape, along with life imprisonment if the offense of murder is proven. As all four accused are minors aged between 16 and 18, the prosecution has sought two-thirds of the standard sentence.

Police had submitted the investigation report to the prosecutor’s office earlier, and the charge sheet was filed after review. The prosecutor’s office stated that although the police report did not conclude gang rape, the charges were filed based on the available evidence and circumstances.

The prosecution has also accused the individuals present at the scene of failing to take the victim to the hospital despite having sufficient time, which contributed to her death.

Legal action has been initiated under relevant sections of the Criminal Code, including provisions related to rape and homicide. According to the law, rape carries a sentence of 10 to 12 years imprisonment along with fines and compensation, while murder can result in life imprisonment.

Following the filing of the charge sheet, statements of the accused have been recorded, and further court proceedings, including final arguments, are expected to continue.

Meanwhile, family members of the victim and human rights activists staged protests outside the court, expressing dissatisfaction with the investigation and demanding a fair and transparent inquiry along with strict punishment for those involved.

The victim’s body has remained in the morgue of Karnali Provincial Hospital for 24 days, as the family has raised concerns over the post-mortem report and called for a reinvestigation into the case.