After a four-month fight in search of justice over a sexual assault, 24-year-old Anandi Devi Sadaya of the Musahar community from ward 3 of Nawarajpur Rural Municipality was found dead by apparent suicide on Tuesday, April 15, at around 3pm.

The events leading up to her death reveal alarming misconduct and negligence that challenge the very essence of the rule of law, rights activists say.

At around 11 am on December 24, Anandi Devi had set out to visit her sister at Nargi in ward 1 of Bariyarpatti Rural Municipality in the district. On the way, she was allegedly dragged into a mango grove near the village pond by two local Yadav men—a 32-year-old and 22-year-old—who tried to gang rape her. She somehow escaped and returned home in tears and torn clothes.

Upon learning of the incident, Anandi Devi’s mother Biltaun Sadaya informed Anandi Devi’s husband Umesh, a resident of Barchhaba in Naraha Rural Municipality. Later that day, they filed a complaint at the Area Police Office in Maheshpur Patar charging the men with attempted rape.

The police should have pursued charges against the accused but, instead, efforts were made to settle the matter within the village, with the involvement of not just the perpetrators and their families but also the police.

According to Anandi Devi’s mother, the very next morning after the complaint was lodged, Sanjeev’s father Upendra Yadav, Shyam Sundar’s father Shivadatta Yadav and local schoolteacher Narendra Yadav visited the victim’s home.

They allegedly put pressure on the victim’s family to settle the case with a payment of Rs200,000 and warned them that refusal to do so could result in dire consequences. “They told us to settle the matter as we have to live in this society,” Biltaun told the Post. “But I said I’m not after money. I want justice.”

When the settlement efforts failed, the accused allegedly sought help from the District Police Office in Siraha. A police source revealed that relatives of the suspects met with then District Police Chief Superintendent of Police Ramesh Pandit just three days after the incident. Following that, the victim’s family was summoned repeatedly by the Area Police Office and allegedly offered money to drop the case.

“The police told us we are poor and asked where we would find money to fight a legal case,” Biltaun said. “They advised us to take the money and settle.” When the family refused, police claimed the accused had fled to India and couldn’t be arrested.

Nearly a month later, on January 17, the police finally provided the victim’s family with an official receipt confirming that the complaint had been registered as Case No 40. The form was signed by police constable Manoj Kumar Yadav. But shockingly, as Biltaun claimed, the police tore up the receipt and again urged them to accept a cash settlement. “They tried multiple times to convince us to withdraw the case, but we didn’t,” said Biltaun.

Inspector Rabinraj Mainali of the Area Police Office in Maheshpur Patar claimed the case had to be dismissed due to an order for further investigation from the district office. “Even though there was a different instruction from the district, the complaint was mistakenly registered. That’s why we had to dismiss it,” he said, denying any pressure on the victim’s family.

After the police nullified the registered complaint, the desperate family approached Dalit right activists. Following advocacy and the threat of a press conference, the police finally re-registered the case on March 9. The Siraha District Court issued an arrest warrant the next day, but the accused remain at large.

According to Biltaun, the suspects are occasionally spotted in the village, yet the police have failed to nab them. Siraha Police Chief Anantaram Sharma claimed the accused had fled to India and that had complicated the arrest. “We are looking for them and will arrest them soon,” he said.

The prolonged delay and lack of justice took a toll on Anandi Devi’s mental health. Her husband Umesh reportedly stopped communicating with her. Anandi Devi, overwhelmed by stress and hopelessness, ultimately took her own life leaving behind a two-year-old daughter, according to family members.

Banshilal Yadav, chairman of ward 3 of Nawarajpur Rural Municipality, said the police mishandled the case from the very beginning. “The police acted irresponsibly. Even my attempts to intervene as an elected representative were ignored,” he claimed.

Dalit rights activist Manoj Kumar Paswan blamed the police for Anandi Devi’s death, arguing that their conduct forced her to take her own life. “This case shows how state institutions disregard the lives of oppressed and marginalised citizens and drive them to despair,” he said, demanding investigation and action against the guilty police officials.

Meanwhile, Madhesh Province Police Office has initiated an investigation into Anandi Devi’s death. A police team led by Senior Superintendent of Police Shanti Raj Koirala reached the victim’s family in ward 3 of Nawarajpur on Sunday.

The probe team met with the family members and inquired about the incident. According to Koirala, the team will inquire with the police officers of the Area Police Office in Maheshpur Patar. “We have begun an investigation. Further details will soon be revealed,” said Koirala.