By Deepak Joshi Pokhrel Women in every sector of the country are not safe in Nepal. They become the victim of the brat and spoiled kid of the big mansion or are sexually abused by our so-called professors as a compromise for getting good marks. In addition, they are accused of practising black magic or witchcraft and forced to eat human excreta and paraded naked in broad daylight. One step further, many women are physically assaulted or burnt alive or beaten to death by their in-laws for carrying less dowry or not carrying dowry. The government of the day poignantly presents the rosy picture saying that gender-based violence has come to an end. It also does not miss any opportunity to claim that women are safe across the country. It also says that women have reached the position where they can dictate their male counterparts. On the contrary, the ground realities belie the rosy picture of the government. The ground realities are just the opposite. Women are still physically assaulted and beaten black and blue to death for carrying less dowry or not carrying dowry. This is evident in the recent inhuman incident in Butwal, Rupendehi District of Lumbini Province, in which a woman, Amrita Tandon, was poisoned to death by her husband and his family. It is reported that she was murdered as she failed to carry the dowry demanded by her in-laws. A young woman who was killed for her only crime to carry less dowry spell a shadow over our long strangles to get rid of gender-based violence. Amrita Tandon got married to Prem Tandon seven years after their relationship. In the initial days, they were living very happily and soon after they were blessed with a son. However, things started to turn nasty after the husband harassed and physically assault her over petty issues. According to family members, their relationship turned sour and Amrita decided to stay at her parent's house. After a few weeks, she was called back by her husband who vowed not to harass her thereafter. But, destiny has something else in store for her. She was poisoned to death by her husband and his family. Amrita’s family had not imagined that her life would end up in breathtaking tragedy. Such horrifying incidents are nothing new in Nepal. Every day, we come across the news that a woman was murdered by her in-laws for carrying less dowry or not dowry. We also hear that women are burnt alive or forced to feed human excreta on charges of practising witchcraft or black magic. Though we were able to transform politically after several democratic struggles, gender-based violence has remained a major challenge in our society. We claim to live in a society where women are revered. But are we? Such crime that takes place at regular intervals brings shame to our society. It is against our faith and belief. In simple words, the recent tragedy in Butwal has eclipsed our historical past and legacy. Now, it is crystal clear that gender-based violence is still highly prevalent in our society throwing our decades' struggles and resources drain. It is also clear that women will continue to fall prey to brats and spoil kids of big mansions and our so-called professors will continue to sexually abuse them as a compromise for getting good marks in Master's or Ph.D dissertation. The nation will embark on the path of prosperity -- socioeconomically and culturally -- if we can bring the culprit to justice and take stern action against them. This will set the example and no one will dare to commit a crime as the fear of the law would prevail. The tragedy in Butwal should be a national reckoning.  The countless seminars and conferences in Kathmandu will not end gender-based violence. Gender-based violence has plagued us for centuries and has been detrimental to over 50% of the country’s total population. If a video of a white policeman killing a black of any color in the US can make us angry, the tragedy in Butwal should shake us from deep inside. Amrita’s death should not be forgotten. Her life was cut short by the cruelty that has been in our society forever. Following the incident, the local police administration arrested her husband and her in-laws for their alleged involvement in the crime. The deceased family hopes that the culprit will be brought to justice. If the police administration fails to take their job seriously, the people will lose faith in the justice system and raise their arms against the state. While our laws forbid such crimes, things have not moved forward. It almost seems like we tend to take a few steps and then move back to the ages.      When we learn to take the crime of this sort with the seriousness they deserve. We can only hope that the police administration does its work with vigor and honesty and carry out the investigation without taking any sides. We also hope that the findings of the report will not be shelved at the office of local administration laying the ground to breed a culture of impunity. We must do our part to work collectively and destroy the vestiges of gender-based violence. To start with, those involved in the murder of Amrita must be punished so that it becomes a turning point in the way our nation treats women across the country. We also must reach out to the deceased family and assure them culprit will not walk free. Though the tragedy in Butwal cannot be undone, the culprit should be punished to ensure that no one dares to commit such a heinous crime in the future. We hope the local administration understands this simple truth and adheres to it.