Domestic violence is on the rise. Nepal sees 528 spousal deaths in six years

A recent incident in Lolang Paiyuntar saw 42-year-old Kumar Thapa allegedly kill his wife, Ishwari Bhujel, with a metal rod during a domestic dispute. Bhujel, a first-class warrant officer in the Nepali Army, was critically injured and later died. Relatives reported ongoing marital discord and previous threats by Thapa, noting that Bhujel had filed a police complaint which was dismissed as a 'minor domestic dispute.' The couple was reportedly in the process of divorce at the time of the attack.

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However, the police post reportedly advised the couple to resolve the issue themselves, treating it as a “minor domestic dispute”.

In Pokhara, 58-year-old Jange Sarki was arrested for allegedly killing his wife, Jamuna Nepali. Her decomposed body was discovered after neighbors reported a foul smell. Police investigation revealed that Sarki allegedly fatally struck his 53-year-old wife against a wall following an argument over land sale. He has been sent to custody for trial.

Another case from Jhapa involved 35-year-old Kabiraj Hemram, who allegedly killed his wife with a khukuri after a domestic dispute. Hemram surrendered to the police immediately after the incident. These three cases illustrate a grim reality of escalating violence within homes.

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Based on a court order issued by the Kaski District Court on August 18, 2025, Jange was sent to custody for trial, according to the Gandaki Province Police Office, Pokhara.

Official data paints a stark picture of domestic violence in Nepal. Between fiscal years 2020-21 and 2025-26, a total of 528 women were killed by their spouses. Koshi province recorded the highest number of such killings with 132, followed by Lumbini with 96 and Madhesh with 81. While the majority of victims are women killed by their husbands, the data also indicates that seven men were killed by their wives in the current fiscal year, and 100 men over the past six years.

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According to the Jhapa District Police Office, the suspect surrendered to the Surunga police immediately after the incident, which occurred late Saturday night following a domestic dispute.

Former Additional Inspector General of Police Durga Singh Chand points to rising relationship instability, suspicion, and extramarital affairs as key drivers pushing domestic disputes towards fatal violence. She emphasizes that these killings are rarely impulsive decisions but rather the culmination of prolonged issues within relationships, affecting both men and women.

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Between fiscal year 2020–21 and 2025–26, a total of 528 women were killed by their spouses.