Okhaldhunga, Balatkar ko ghatana gambhir anusandhan garna maag gardai dharna. Women Human Rights Defenders have demanded serious investigation of a rape of a girl claiming that the incident was being settled on the force of monetary dealing. They also submitted a memorandum to District Administration Office and District Police Office on December 29 claiming that the police was weakening the case by poor documentation under the pressure from political leaders and financial promise. Mothers’ Group Network, District Child Club Network and Ward Civil Forum organized the protest after the girl’s family was barred from getting the medical report claiming irregularities in police investigation. After learning from sources within police that the evidence was not sufficient to implicate the accused, the women also held a sit-in at District Administration Office and District Police Office on December 29. Father of the girl said, the leaders had asked the girl’s mother to agree for settlement in exchange for money but this case cannot be settled. Police had arrested Phanindra Bahadur Karki, assistant computer operator at Vocational and Skill Development Training Centre, Okhaldhunga on December 26 on charge of raping an 11-year-old girl. Medical checkup of the girl was conducted on the same day, the police said adding they could not comment on the case as the investigation was ongoing. Inspector Baidhyanath Yadav said that they could make the medical report public only after it is verified by the Center. He also rejected the idea of monetary influence in the case. Network chairperson Kanti Rajbhandari said that they had staged the protest to pressure the police after learning about the attempt of influencing the case. Shiva