Lumbini lawmaker Sharma arrested on child labor exploitation charges

KATHMANDU: Rekha Kumari Sharma, a member of the Lumbini Province Assembly, has been arrested on charges of child labor exploitation.

A team from Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office arrested Sharma from her residence in Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu, on Sunday evening.

Sharma has been accused of employing a 14-year-old girl in domestic work, a punishable offence under laws protecting children. The case came to light after the Kathmandu Metropolitan City rescued the girl from her house in May 2024.

Police say Sharma has been taken into custody, and further investigation is underway under the Child-Related Act.

Sharma, who hails from Dang, was elected to the provincial assembly under the proportional representation system from CPN-UML in 2022.