District court Makawanpur today slapped a man with life imprisonment (20 years) convicting him of selling his wife to a brothel in India.

A single bench of district judge Tek Narayan Kunwar handed down the punishment to 53-year-old Man Bahadur Thokar of Tistung for selling his wife to a brothel in India 22 years ago. The court ruled that Kunwar pay Rs 300,000 in reparation to the victim and Rs 200,000 in fine. 

According to court registrar Kaushaleshwor Gyawali, two accomplices Harimaya Gewa of Hetauda and Harkalal Gole of Basamadi are at large. “As they are on the run, their cases are pending,” he informed, adding that the court has ordered payment of compensation from the state rehabilitation fund for now because of the convict’s inability pay the amount. 

Thokar had married the victim, who hails from Nuwakot in 1991. He has pleaded guilty. 

“He coaxed me into marriage and took me along with my son to Padam Pokhari at a kin’s house. There, a friend took me to Hetauda to watch a movie saying my husband wouldn’t return as he had gone away taking Rs 50,000 with him. She fed me a drink and I lost consciousness. When my senses returned, i found myself inside a train. Later, I found out that I had been sold for IRS 200,000 to a brothel in Mumbai,” Gyawali said, quoting the victim.

“It was a harrowing experience sleeping with seven or eight customers everyday for 15 years until a person from Gujarat bought me for Rs 23,000 and took me to his home,” recounted the victim. “Five years later, I returned home to meet my son. Upon learning that the so-called husband of mine could be punished, I filed a case against him and others with the help of Maiti Nepal on June 3 last year,” she added. 

Acting on the FIR, police arrested Thokar on June 17 from Palung. 

Sold at the age of 22, the woman is now 44. She is now staying with her son, who is 23, in Tistung.

Published on: 22 May 2013 | The Himalayan Times