KATHMANDU, May 14: For Bindamaya BK of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-3, Sindhuli, the grief of losing her 22-year-old son Krishna BK has been compounded by what she calls silence and injustice from the state.
Every mention of the incident leaves her visibly shaken. During an interview with Republica Daily on Tuesday at the family’s sit-in protest site at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu, she struggled to hold back her emotions.
It has been 23 days since Krishna BK died while in police custody at the Khurkot Area Police Office detention centre in Sindhuli on April 20. Yet, the family says they are still waiting for clear evidence and an official explanation of how he died. Frustrated by the delay, the family and relatives have been staging a sit-in protest at Maitighar since April 25 and continued their demonstration on Wednesday.
Krishna BK, the second son of Bindamaya, worked as a driver in Kathmandu. He had been in a relationship with an 18-year-old girl from Khotang for the past two years. After deciding to marry, the couple began living together from April 11. They later travelled to Krishna’s ancestral home in Sindhuli during the Nepali New Year to formalise their relationship, which Krishna had already informed his mother about.
According to Krishna’s brother-in-law, Jayakrishna, the situation escalated on April 16 when the girl’s family filed a complaint at the Satdobato Police Office, alleging that she had gone missing and had been raped. Police then instructed Krishna to appear for questioning. The girl’s uncle reportedly sent him a message asking him to come to the police office.
Beliefs surrounding Krishna Janmashtami
The couple arrived at the Satdobato Police Office at around 5 PM, while the girl’s family arrived at around 7 PM. The girl reportedly told police that she had married willingly. However, her uncle later told police that she was a minor and spoke privately with Krishna for about 30 minutes. The girl was later taken home by her family members.
Police then took Krishna to another room for questioning. Although discussions were still ongoing, police asked Krishna’s side to leave, but they remained at the station until around 10 PM. Police continued discussions with the girl until midnight and later instructed Krishna’s side to return the next day at 10 AM.
When the family arrived the following day, they were told at the gate that they could not meet him. They later learned that Krishna had already been transferred to Sindhuli at around 8 AM, although police informed them only in the afternoon. He was then kept at the Khurkot Area Police Office instead of the Sunkoshi local police post.
The family says they visited him regularly on April 18 and 19 and were informed that he had been remanded for seven days. On April 20, police told them he would be taken to Sindhuli for further questioning. However, that evening, the family was informed that Krishna had died by hanging inside a toilet, allegedly using his own shirt.
Relatives claim that while in custody, Krishna was pressured to sign a statement in a rape case and subjected to physical and mental torture. They also question why CCTV footage and other evidence have not been made public. The family alleges that despite the presence of several police personnel, the circumstances surrounding his death remain deeply suspicious.
Refusing to accept the body without answers, the family has demanded full transparency and evidence. The body was sent to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu for a post-mortem examination on April 25, but the report has yet to be released even after two weeks.
The family also disputes the official claim that Krishna committed suicide, saying the absence of CCTV footage and other evidence has only deepened their suspicion of foul play. They point to inconsistencies in police statements, including delays in transferring the body and a lack of clarity about the events inside custody.
They say they will continue protesting until the truth comes out.
“Our son died inside state custody. If someone dies in the state’s care, justice must be delivered,” said his mother, Bindamaya BK.
“There are marks on his body, injuries to his eyes and ears. How can this be suicide?” asked his elder brother, Dipesh BK, demanding CCTV footage from the time Krishna was taken into custody until his death, along with details of officers on duty and an impartial investigation.
The family also alleges bias in the police handling of the case, claiming that the girl’s family’s statements were prioritised despite conflicting claims about her age. Locals say their complaint against the police was not accepted and was even returned when sent through postal channels.
Although politicians, including lawmakers Khagendra Sunar and Rima Bishwakarma of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, visited Sindhuli to express solidarity, protests have continued at Maitighar. The family says the government has yet to formally engage with them.
Relatives describe Krishna as a simple and honest young man with no chronic illness. The family, already struggling financially, says Bindamaya had been devastated by the suicide of her husband a year ago and now fears she may never receive justice for her son.
“Tell me how my son died. Show me all the photos. Was he kneeling or lying down? Everything must come out,” Bindamaya BK said, demanding full transparency from the state.
