A total of 253 rape cases were recorded across 10 districts of Bagmati Province in the last fiscal year, including 73 incidents involving minors, according to the Provincial Police Office, Hetauda.

Despite most perpetrators being arrested and prosecuted, authorities say rape cases have not declined. Alarmingly, incidents of sexual violence against elderly women have also been reported.

In Makawanpur, an 80-year-old woman was raped on March 13 by a 57-year-old relative, who has since been remanded in custody. During the same fiscal year, 41 women were raped in Makawanpur alone, 28 of them minors aged between four and sixteen. Police reports show that many of the victims were assaulted by neighbours or family members.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Gaurav Mahat said that many cases involve intoxicated offenders who target vulnerable girls and women. “Those under the influence often prey on victims unable to resist or call for help,” Mahat said.

Maiti Nepal’s Makawanpur chief, Maya Lama, said that in most cases, “girls are abused by people they know—relatives or neighbours—often lured through manipulation and false promises.”

Police also blamed exposure to explicit content on mobile phones and urban lifestyles for the growing number of such cases in both urban and rural areas. Some hotel workers have been found running covert sex businesses and assaulting minors to satisfy their desires.

Although there has been a slight decline in total rape cases—from 287 the previous fiscal year to 253—the number of minor victims has risen from 71 to 73. The highest numbers of incidents were reported in Makawanpur and Chitwan, with Ramechhap recording the fewest—six cases compared to 13 the previous year.

Rape incidents increased in Sindhuli, Sindhupalchok, and Rasuwa, while seven other districts saw declines. Police said most suspects have been arrested and detained for trial, with several already convicted and serving prison sentences.