Transport remained blocked in Simara on Friday despite a late-night agreement between security officials and protesters demanding action over the rape and murder of a three-year-old girl.

The agreement, reached after midnight between the district security committee and representatives of the protesters, called for relief and employment for the victim’s family, prosecution of all those found involved in the crime, tighter security in the area and action against police officers accused of mishandling the girl’s disappearance.

It also called for the suspension of all protest programmes and the reopening of roads.

But the agreement has done little to ease tensions. The girl’s family and relatives refused to sign it and continued blocking the Birgunj-Pathlaiya road section in Simara, leaving passenger and freight vehicles stranded. Although the East-West Highway has reopened elsewhere, the key Simara section remains obstructed.

The protesters are demanding the home minister’s presence in the talks and stronger assurances that those responsible for the crime will receive severe punishment.

Assistant Chief District Officer Chhabiraman Bhattarai said officials had agreed to work with the local unit to provide relief and employment to the victim’s family, pursue the case against the detained suspect and anyone else found involved, strengthen security in the area, and take action against police officers found negligent in searching for the girl.

The agreement was signed by Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra on behalf of the security authorities and Jeetpur-Simara mayor Rajan Paudel, along with representatives of various political parties, on behalf of the protesters.

The standoff follows the killing of Garima Chaudhary, a three-year-old from Dasdhure in ward 1 of Jeetpursimara Sub-metropolitan City. She disappeared from her home at about 8:30am on August 16. Her mother alerted police less than three hours later after failing to find her herself.

Her body was found three days later in an abandoned, dilapidated house in Bhaktinagar, about 200 metres from her home. Family members and residents have accused police of failing to act urgently after she was reported missing, saying the delay contributed to the rape and murder.

The protests have continued for four days, with demonstrators blocking roads and surrounding the Simara Area Police Office.

Amid mounting criticism, Nepal Police headquarters in Kathmandu has recalled Deputy Superintendent of Police Dilip Chhetri and Inspector Prakash Thapa from the Simara police office. Daya Krishna Bhatta has been assigned to take charge there.

Madhesh provincial police chief Om Prakash Adhikari confirmed the transfer, saying the two officers had been withdrawn over allegations that they failed to show sufficient urgency in searching for the missing girl and failed to manage the security situation.

The victim’s body has remained at the provincial hospital in Kalaiya for four days after the post-mortem.