Nepal's burn victims face tortured fight for justice
Many perpetrators of such horrific violence in Nepal go unpunished because of the limited scope and restrictive requirements of the law
Dangol wept as she spoke about her husband, who splashed kerosene on her from behind and set her alight. She said her in-laws might have provoked his act; they wanted their son to marry someone from the same caste. Dangol was not.
"My in-laws abused me for years, and my husband also gave up on me eventually," said the 30-year-old, whose name has been changed for this story.
"I was screaming, trying to douse the fire, but he shoved me inside the kitchen so I couldn't escape. "I'll never be the same person again."
Dangol's case underscores the plight of many Nepalese women who are burned alive in acts of domestic violence.
Reasons range from dowry-related issues to polygamy and family feuds. Some women are also set ablaze for not bearing a son, according to Burns Violence Survivors Nepal, which advocates for the rights of such women. Though the prevalence is widespread, Nepal lacks any statistics on such incidents and does not incorporate burn violence under its Domestic Violence (Crime and Punishment) Act.