Crime rate accelerates during pandemic: 4,346 women, children missing since beginning of COVID-19 in Nepal

KATHMANDU, August 25: Nepal has witnessed a sharp rise in the number of crimes and violence among women and children since the beginning of the first wave of COVID-19 in the country.

According to a data revealed by the Nepal Police Headquarters, the number of domestic violence and rape has largely increased during the pandemic.

As many as 8,669 women and children have gone missing since the beginning of the pandemic. Of them, the police have been able to locate only 4,346 people.

According to Biswaraj Pokerel, additional IGE at the Crime Investigation Department, as many as 4,346 people are still at large.

People willing to report missing or location of any individuals can contact at free-hotline of Nepal Police 104 or child helpline 1098.

In fiscal year 2077-78 BS, as many as 3,658 children had gone missing. As per this data, 305 children have gone missing in a month and 10 in a day on average.

Likewise, according to the latest data of Nepal Police, as many as seven women and children are raped in a day on average.

Also, as many as 16,436 domestic violence were registered at Nepal Police Headquarters after the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal. On average, 1,027 complaints of domestic violence were registered in a month and 34 in a day.