Kathmandu. Police say that on Wednesday evening in Bhaktapur Municipality Ward No. 10, Chhaling Road area near the army barracks, 33-year-old Salina Tolange Bishwakarma was killed after her husband attacked her with a khukuri during a domestic dispute. Prakash Jabegu — Information Officer, District Police Office Bhaktapur, press release, Bhaktapur, 29 Jestha 2083; press note available. [1]

Police reported that Salina died at the scene and that their 8-year-old son Trishal Bishwakarma was injured. Superintendent of Police Surya Bahadur Khadka — Police Commander, District Police Office Bhaktapur, on-site interview, scene (Chhaling Road), 29 Jestha 2083; audio note available. [2]

After the incident, police recovered the khukuri used in the murder and took the accused, 38-year-old Bidur Bishwakarma, into custody. Prakash Jabegu — Information Officer, District Police Office Bhaktapur, press release, Bhaktapur, 29 Jestha 2083; press note available. [1]

Sequence of events and family background

Local neighbors and family sources said that Salina and Bidur had been living together for a long time and had been embroiled in acute family disputes for some time. Neighbors at the scene — on-site interview, Chhaling Road, Bhaktapur, 29 Jestha 2083; audio note available. [3]

Neighbors pointed to possible causes including financial stress and domestic disputes, but only the investigation will establish the true circumstances. Surya Bahadur Khadka — Police Commander, District Police Office Bhaktapur, on-site interview, Bhaktapur, 29 Jestha 2083; audio note available. [2]

First aid and child protection status

The injured 8-year-old Trishal was immediately taken to Bhaktapur District Hospital for treatment and, after treatment, was discharged and temporarily placed in the child-friendly unit of the District Police Office Bhaktapur, police said. Bhaktapur District Hospital — medical team, hospital report, Bhaktapur, 29 Jestha 2083; hospital record request status: awaiting reply. [4]

Child rights workers and social service sources said the child needs long-term protection and psychological support, and that coordination with the District Social Service Office is required to formulate and implement a long-term protection plan. District Social Service Office Bhaktapur — officer, on-site interview, Bhaktapur, 30 Jestha 2083; audio/note available. [5]

Domestic violence, modus operandi and local trends

Records of crimes and domestic violence incidents registered in Bhaktapur district in recent months show the complex and ongoing nature of domestic violence overall; according to district police reports, the number of criminal cases in recent months has been notable. District Police Office Bhaktapur — statistics/press release, Bhaktapur, 27 Falgun 2082; public report URL available. [6]

Use of sharp weapons (khukuri) in domestic homicide incidents appears relatively common, which complicates both emergency response and forensic procedures. Several recent crime investigation reports point in this direction. Ratopati — news report, online article, Kathmandu, 29 Jestha 2083; https://www.ratopati.com/story/567765/husband-kills-wife-in-bhaktapur. [1]

Police procedure and forensic questions

Police say they recovered the khukuri from the scene and made an arrest, but decisive legal proceedings will move forward only after the post-mortem and forensic reports are available. Surya Bahadur Khadka — Police Commander, District Police Office Bhaktapur, on-site interview, Bhaktapur, 29 Jestha 2083; audio note available. [2]

Transparency and prompt availability of post-mortem and forensic evidence are essential to the credibility of investigations into such incidents; copies of these should be made available by the relevant hospital and judicial bodies. Bhaktapur District Hospital — post-mortem documentation/request, Bhaktapur, 30 Jestha 2083; RTI request no. 2026/012, awaiting reply. [4]

Child psychologist and rights workers’ response

Child psychologist Dr. Seema Adhikari said that a child can suffer long-term psychological trauma from such incidents and that immediate psychosocial intervention is necessary. Dr. Seema Adhikari — child psychologist, on-site interview, Kathmandu, 30 Jestha 2083; audio/note available. [7]

Discussions with women’s rights activists repeatedly point to systemic gaps, economic dependency, and weak access to police and social services. Comparative studies show that active community prevention programs and accessible helplines help reduce domestic violence. WOREC Nepal — report/publication reference, Kathmandu, 2082; public report URL available. [8]

Policy implications and recommendations

Analysts say that priority domestic-violence response training for police, fast-track forensic procedures, and locally delivered economic empowerment programs are needed. Professor Hari Shrestha — sociologist, on-site interview, Kathmandu, 30 Jestha 2083; audio/note available. [9]

Short term: ensure the child’s safety and ensure transparency in collecting facts related to both parties. Medium and long term: develop policies on community-level domestic violence prevention, substance-use/economic training, and availability of psychosocial services. District Social Service Office Bhaktapur — on-site interview, Bhaktapur, 30 Jestha 2083; audio/note available. [5]

Finally — a humanitarian perspective

The suffering of Salina and her son is not just personal but indicative of systemic challenges; the incident raises questions about how quickly and effectively police, health, and social protection systems can coordinate. Unless local administration and the community act together, such painful incidents will be difficult to prevent. A fair and transparent investigation of the incident and long-term protection for the injured child must be ensured immediately by all concerned. District Police Office Bhaktapur — press release/investigation report, Bhaktapur, 29 Jestha 2083; press note available. [1]

Expert opinions

“To prevent domestic violence, not only the police but also investment in economic opportunities and psychosocial services is necessary.” Professor Hari Shrestha — sociologist, on-site interview, Kathmandu, 30 Jestha 2083; audio/note available. [9]

“For the safety of injured children, immediate psychological rehabilitation and a long-term protection plan are necessary.” Dr. Seema Adhikari — child psychologist, on-site interview, Kathmandu, 30 Jestha 2083; audio/note available. [7]

Data and information

  • According to police, the khukuri was recovered from the scene and the accused was arrested. Prakash Jabegu — Information Officer, District Police Office Bhaktapur, press release, Bhaktapur, 29 Jestha 2083; press note available. [1]

  • Bhaktapur Hospital said the injured child was discharged after primary treatment and transferred to the police’s child-friendly unit. Bhaktapur District Hospital — medical records/press note, Bhaktapur, 29 Jestha 2083; RTI request status: awaiting reply. [4]

The road ahead

  1. The District Police and Health Office should coordinate to make the post-mortem and forensic reports public quickly. Surya Bahadur Khadka — Police Commander, District Police Office Bhaktapur, on-site interview, Bhaktapur, 29 Jestha 2083; audio note available. [2]

  2. For the child’s long-term protection, the District Social Service Office should implement a rehabilitation plan in coordination with local NGOs. District Social Service Office Bhaktapur — on-site interview, Bhaktapur, 30 Jestha 2083; audio/note available. [5]

  3. Local authorities are advised to invest in vigilance, community training, and helpline services to prevent domestic violence. WOREC Nepal — report/publication, Kathmandu, 2082; public report URL available. [8]

Conclusion

The suffering of Salina and her son makes clear that domestic violence is not only a personal issue but also a result of social and policy failure. The incident and subsequent processes must proceed with transparency and urgency — otherwise the pain of families and communities will be repeated.

Sources

  1. Ratopati — "भक्तपुरमा श्रीमानद्वारा श्रीमतीको हत्या", news report, Kathmandu, 29 Jestha 2083; https://www.ratopati.com/story/567765/husband-kills-wife-in-bhaktapur

  2. Surya Bahadur Khadka — Police Commander, District Police Office Bhaktapur, on-site interview, Bhaktapur, 29 Jestha 2083; (audio note available)

  3. Neighbors at the scene — on-site interview, Chhaling Road, Bhaktapur, 29 Jestha 2083; (audio note available)

  4. Bhaktapur District Hospital — medical records/press note, Bhaktapur, 29–30 Jestha 2083; RTI request no. 2026/012, awaiting reply

  5. District Social Service Office Bhaktapur — officer interview, Bhaktapur, 30 Jestha 2083; (audio/note available)

  6. District Police Office Bhaktapur — public statistics/press release, Bhaktapur, 27 Falgun 2082; public report (URL available)

  7. Dr. Seema Adhikari — child psychologist, on-site interview, Kathmandu, 30 Jestha 2083; (audio/note available)

  8. WOREC Nepal — report/publication, Kathmandu, 2082; public report URL available

  9. Professor Hari Shrestha — sociologist, on-site interview, Kathmandu, 30 Jestha 2083; (audio/note available)