Police have arrested Rupesh Mandal, the prime suspect in the gang rape and suspicious death of 17-year-old Rinku Kumari Sada from Siraha district. Mandal was apprehended on Tuesday from the Dashgaja border area of Siraha Municipality-17, according to Madhesh Province Police sources.

Mandal had been on the run since the incident came to light. “We have arrested the prime suspect, and he will be officially presented soon,” said a senior police officer involved in the investigation.

On the night of February 9, Sada reportedly stepped out of her home in Nawarajpur Rural Municipality to relieve herself, after which she was allegedly abducted and gang-raped by three local men, including Mandal. According to her family, Sada returned home the next morning in tears.

Rather than filing a police complaint immediately, local leaders convened a panchayat (informal village mediation) on February 11 and February 12 to settle the matter. The panchayat reportedly fined the perpetrators Rs140,000 and barred the victim's family from approaching the police.

As tensions escalated and threats against her family grew, Sada was found hanging in her home on February 12, raising suspicions of coercion and foul play. The police initially registered a First Information Report (FIR) for abetment of suicide but expanded the investigation following media coverage and public outcry.

Eight individuals, including the three accused of the rape and five involved in the panchayat, are under investigation. Three suspects are currently in police custody, while the rest remain at large.

Mandal’s arrest comes amid mounting pressure on the authorities to ensure justice for Sada. Civil society groups, Dalit activists, and student organizations have staged multiple protests in Siraha and Kathmandu, accusing the police of mishandling the case and shielding the perpetrators.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak recently assured the National Assembly that all offenders would face legal consequences and pledged a thorough investigation. "The government is committed to delivering justice to the victim's family," Lekhak said.

Political leaders have also weighed in on the case. During a recent visit to Siraha, Maoist Centre Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal met with local officials and Sada's grieving family, emphasizing the need for transparency in the investigation. The Rastriya Mukti Party has similarly condemned the government's perceived inaction, warning of further protests if justice is delayed.

Activists continue to express concern over the impartiality of the investigation. "The investigation seems more focused on protecting the perpetrators than on delivering justice," said Arjun Thapaliya, a civil society leader from Siraha. He urged the government to form an independent, high-level investigation committee.

Meanwhile, police officials claim to be making progress. "We are actively pursuing the remaining suspects and will bring them to justice," said Police Chief Ramesh Pandit of Siraha.

The arrest of Rupesh Mandal is seen as a significant step, but activists and Sada's family remain wary until all accused are held accountable and the full truth of the case is revealed.