Madhesi women participating in the Tarai protest have accused security personnel of sexual assault. They said that in most of the demonstrations local authorities mobilise all-male security personnel who take advantage of female demonstrators on the pretext of making arrests. “I have never seen a female police during our protests,” said a female protester from Parsa district in a programme organised by Sankalpa in Kathmandu. “I have been touched inappropriately by the male security personnel a number of times.” The 27-year old woman demanded the government and the non government organisations to ensure security of female protesters like her. The Madhesi female protesters also accused the feminists of turning blind eye towards the rights of Madhesi women who are fighting for a gender-friendly naturalised citizenship right. Durga Sob, president of Sankalpa said the time has come for women rights activists to stop putting a blanket approach and address the needs of the women as per their caste, ethnicity and their economic background. “We have to stop generalising the issues related to women. We have to understand that the problems of Dalit woman are different to those from the so-called upper caste,” Sob said. Around 50 Madhesi women affiliated to various Madhes-based parties from eight Tarai districts had participated in the programme.