Kathmandu, Aug. 19 -- It was April 7, 2019, just three days after an emergency surgery at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj for an ectopic pregnancy that nearly cost Binu Yadav her life. Ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes.

That day, her then-partner, Pradeep Kathayat, raped her while she was bedridden, recovering from her surgery. What began as a consensual relationship in 2018, turned into rape when Kathayat forced sexual contact on Yadav, she said.

"After surgery, I was in pain, almost unconscious, and even breathing was difficult," Yadav said. "Yet he forced himself on me."

The assault tore open fresh stitches from surgery. Lat...