A 33-year-old woman, detained for investigation of a murder case, was allegedly tortured by police while in custody at Siraha district.

Mirchaiya Area Police Office, on Saturday, arrested Jibachhi Devi Sah, a permanent resident of Rampurbirta-1, Mirchaiya in connection with the ‘suspicious’ death of her sister-in-law Gubadi Devi Sah. Gubadi was found dead in a sugarcane field on September 30.

Jabachhi has said the security personnel severely tortured her in custody, forcing her to confess her involvement in the incident.

“A female officer hit me on my private parts. A male officer severely thrashed me with a pipe and gave me an electric shock,” Jibachhi said while remaining admitted at the hospital on Tuesday.

The incident came to light after the victim was taken to Mirchaiya Hospital for treatment on Monday. The hospital said there were bruises on her body.

On Monday, Mirchaiya locals staged demonstrations, demanding stringent action against the guilty police officers. The protesters pelted stones at the Area Police Office and disrupted traffic along the East-West Highway.

Security personnel lobbed tear gas canisters and fired rubber bullets to contain the situation.

The protesters stopped their demonstrations after Chief District Officer Lalbabu Kawari met the victim’s relatives and assured them of a probe into the incident.

According to CDO Kawari, a probe committee has been formed to investigate the alleged torture of a woman in police custody. The probe is led by DAO Officer Hari Kishwor Chandrabanshi and includes representatives of security agencies and civil society.

In Nepal, incidents of torture and death in custody are frequently reported, especially in the Tarai. However, the incidents are rarely investigated and the rate of conviction is dismal.