Rights activists picketed the District Administration Office in Kanchanpur on Tuesday, demanding the authorities to identify the perpetrators involved in the rape and murder of Nirmala Pant.

The activists and Pant’s family picketed the DAO from 10:30 am to 12 noon. Nara Bahadur Saud, a member of the Citizen Struggle Committee, said that the residents of Kanchanpur will keep on fighting for justice until the culprits are arrested.

“Nine months have passed since the incident. It’s very sad that the authorities are still unable to identify the perpetrators,” Saud said.

Sushil Baidhya, the chief district officer, said investigation into the incident is underway.

“We hope that the perpetrators will be identified soon. Various teams are involved in the investigation,” said Baidhya.

Superintendent of Police Dinesh Acharya said that the police are looking into the investigation from different angles. The Central Investigation Bureau, Crime Division and a team of Police Headquarters are looking into the case.

On Tuesday, rights activists submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the chief district officer.

Thirteen-year-old Nirmala was raped and murdered on July 26 last year in Bhimdutta Municipality, Kanchanpur. Her body was found in a sugarcane field the next day.