Nursing mother lashed to death NUM RAJ KHANAL PYUTHAN, Oct 5 - A nursing mother who gave birth to a child through "illicit relationship", died due to the severe torture meted out by villagers of Hansapur VDC-7 of Pyuthan district. Her child also died. According to locals, Hari Devi Budathoki died after village women repeatedly lashed her with stinging nettles. He husband, Dhruba Raj Budathoki has been working in India for the past 14 months. The child died on September 26, six days after birth, while the mother succumbed to injuries two days later on Sept 28. Village women had beaten Hari Devi as she remained silent when asked the name of the child's real father. "Villagers thrashed her with stinging nettles, asking her to tell them the name of the child's real father," said Numisara, Hari Devi's mother-in-law. She said Hari Devi did not suckle the child due to her abnormal mental condition and it died later. "They should have waited till my son (Hari Devi's husband) came back. He would have settled the issue," she said. Numisara's family comprised Hari Devi and her three grand children. Previously, she had told villagers that Tara Saru, a local, was the father of the child. But at another meeting of villagers held later, she simply remained silent. The condition of her body deteriorated after she was tortured. Later, Maoists pressurized Tara Saru to provide treatment to Hari Devi. She died while undergoing treatment in Butwal. Surprisingly, Hari Devi's last rites were performed by Saru's kin. In the meantime, Maoists took Saru in their custody and are torturing him since Friday. Before he was taken into custody by Maoists, he had said he was ready to bear treatment expenses on the condition that the matter would be settled after she recuperates. Saru's wife is nursing his ten-day old baby at home. Posted on: 2006-10-04 21:43:41 (Server Time)