Protests against a social media ban and corruption recently led to intense movements in Nepal. At one point, amid chaos, violence, and widespread protests by young people, the recently former Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli, resigned. Protesters also set fire to the residences of various important government figures. In this context, it was reported in the media that, ‘Nepal’s former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal’s wife, Rajyalakshmi Chitrakar, lost her life in the recent Gen-Z led protests in Nepal. Angry protesters set fire to Jhalanath Khanal’s residence, trapping his wife inside. She later died from her burn injuries.’
Reports published in the media with this claim: Somoy TV, Channel 24, RTV, Jamuna TV (Facebook), Ekattor TV, NTV, Channel i, ATN News, Boishakhi News, Ekhon TV (Facebook), Asian TV, The Daily Star, Kalbela, Samakal, Kaler Kantho, Jugantor, Ittefaq, Inqilab, Desh Rupantor, Bangladesh Pratidin, Manabzamin, Naya Diganta, The Business Standard, The Financial Express, Jaijaidin, Janakantha, bdnews24, Dhaka Post, Dhaka Tribune, Rising BD, banglanews24, UNB, Dhaka Prokash, Bonik Barta, Sarabangla, Daily Observer, Rupali Bangladesh, Bahaanno News, Bangladesh Journal, Khobor Songjog, Khoborer Kagoj, Sangbad Prokash, Samoyer Alo, Barta Bazar, Protidiner Bangladesh, Noya Shatabdi, Samoyer Kanthaswar, BD Today, Bangladesh Bulletin, Swadesh Protidin, Probas Khobor, Jobabdihi (Facebook), Views Bangladesh, Campus Times, Bangla Edition, Newszonebd, The News24, Barta24, MTnews24, NewsG24, Durbin TV (Facebook), Bangladesh Post, Deshkal News, Jagoron News (Facebook), Sangbad Live24, Dainik Destiny, Khulna Gazette, Boishakhi News, Mirror Times BD, iNEWSBD, Banglabazar Patrika.
See posts on media Facebook pages with this claim: here, here, here.
See posts on media YouTube channels with this claim: here, here.
See a post on a media Instagram account with this claim: here.
See posts on media X accounts with this claim: here, here.
See a post on Threads with the claim here.
Reports published in Indian media with this claim: Times of India, Live Mint, News18, Aaj Tak, ABP Live, Ei Samay, News24, India TV (YouTube), ANI News (YouTube), Republic World (YouTube), DD News (YouTube), NDTV MP Chhattisgarh (YouTube), Anandabazar, The Wall.
Notably, Bangladeshi media primarily published news with this claim citing Indian media outlets.
Fact-check
The Rumor Scanner team’s investigation found that although the wife of the former Prime Minister of Nepal, Ravi Laxmi Chitrakar, was burned in a fire during the protests, the news of her death is incorrect. In reality, she is receiving medical treatment, and according to the latest reports, her condition is improving.
An investigation on this matter led to a report published on the website of the international media outlet ‘BBC’ on September 10, which states, ‘…Among those injured in the unrest was the wife of former prime minister Jhalanath Khanal, who was severely burned when protesters set fire to their home in Kathmandu on Tuesday (September 9). While some media outlets reported that Ravi Laxmi Chitrakar had died, her husband told BBC Nepali that she was still alive in a critical condition in the ICU of Kirtipur Burn Hospital in the capital.’
Further investigation led to a fact-check report on this topic published on the website of the Nepal-based fact-checking platform ‘Nepal Factcheck’ on September 11. The report states, “Former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal’s wife is undergoing treatment, the news of her death is false.” The report further adds that to verify the claim, ‘Nepal Factcheck’ contacted Dr. Kiran Nakarmi, the director of Kirtipur Hospital, where Ravi Laxmi Chitrakar is being treated. On the afternoon of September 11, Dr. Nakarmi told ‘Nepal Factcheck’ over the phone, “Her physical condition is critical, she is undergoing treatment.”‘
A report published on the website of the Nepal-based news outlet ‘Setopati’ on September 18 states, ‘Senior CPN (Unified Socialist) leader Jhalanath Khanal’s wife, Ravi Laxmi Chitrakar, has lost her left hand. According to family sources, Chitrakar, who is in the ICU at Kirtipur’s Burn Hospital, underwent surgery on Wednesday (September 17) and had her left hand amputated. The part below the elbow was amputated. The residence of Khanal and Chitrakar was also burned during the protests on September 9. Chitrakar was severely burned in the fire and was in a critical condition. Additionally, she now has pneumonia. However, her health is currently improving.’
Furthermore, a report published on the website of the Nepal-based news outlet ‘Arthadabali’ on September 17, citing doctors, also stated that Ravi Laxmi Chitrakar’s health condition is currently improving.
This confirms that the claim of the death of former Nepali Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal’s wife, Ravi Laxmi Chitrakar, is incorrect.
Notably, while the media referred to the former Prime Minister’s wife as Rajyalakshmi Chitrakar, multiple Nepalese media outlets, including ‘Nepal Factcheck’, have stated her actual name is ‘Ravi Laxmi Chitrakar’.
Therefore, the claim that former Nepali Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal’s wife, Ravi Laxmi Chitrakar, died in a fire is false.
Sources
- BBC – Nepal protests ‘hijacked’, Gen Z claim, as army patrols the streets
- Nepal FactCheck – Former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal’s wife is undergoing treatment, news of her death is false
- Setopati – Jhala Nath Khanal’s wife loses left hand
- Arthadabali – What is the current health condition of Jhalanath Khanal’s wife, Ravilaxmi?
