A Dalit woman and her one-and-a-half-month old daughter have been thrown out of house by her husband and in-laws at Chaukhola in Kumakh Rural Municipality-6, Salyan.

Two years ago, Alisha BK, 21, had married Tikaram Rawat after several years of courtship. However, things turned sour as she belonged to a Dalit community and her in-laws, who were from the ‘so-called higher caste’, objected to their relationship. “Four months ago, my in-laws and husband thrashed me and kicked me out of the house. I can survive by myself, but I am worried about my daughter,” said Alisha.

Alisha has been living in a shed with her daughter after her husband’s family refused to allow her into the house. She said she had filed a complaint with the Area Police Office in Ragechaur after her in-laws threatened to kill her.

Alisha filed an application in the District Police Office (DPO) on Thursday. DSP Birendra Bahadur Shahi of the DPO said Tikaram, the victim’s husband, has been absconding after his wife registered a complaint at the police office. “We will file a case under the Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability Act after we locate the absconding” said DSP Shahi.

Nepal criminalised caste-based discrimination and untouchability in 2011. However, caste-based discrimination is still rife in the country.