PANCHTHAR, May 15: At a time when increasing violence against women has been terrorizing people across the country, a brutal murder of a teenager and a gang-rape of a woman in Panchthar in the last three days have raised security concerns in the district.
Shital Yonghang, 15, of Hilihang Rural Municipality-4 was found murdered outside her home on Sunday. The perpetrator had chopped her head off, according to Police Inspector Anil Paudel. Padam Tamang and Bhagirath Bastola of Falgunanda Rural Rural Municipality-2 have been accused of their involvement in the murder.
Inspector Paudel informed Republica that Bastola has already been arrested while Tamang is still at large. It has been learnt that the two people murdered the girl by taking her to a house where no one lived. "Bastola has already admitted to his crime. We are searching for Tamang now," said Inspector Paudel.
Victim of Superstition
As per the preliminary investigation, it has been found that Bastola and Tamang were friends while the girl was Tamang's girlfriend. Locals say that they knew each other since a year and had even exchanged their mobile phones. Reportedly, the girl had left her home saying she had to take her phone back.
Police succeeded in booking one of the accused after locals reported that two boys were found roaming in Katike since three days by wearing masks. This incident has created panic among the parents with school going children. Shital was a tenth grader.
Meanwhile, a 58-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped in Phidim Municipality on Saturday. A complaint has been filed against three people for their involvement in the heinous act. The victim has stated that she was attending a wedding party when some people forcefully took her to an unknown place and raped her.
Inspector Paudel informed Republica that the woman started yelling and screaming after two of the men raped her and the third one approached her for the same purpose. Locals gathered around the area after hearing the scream of the victim and managed to capture one of them. The locals handed Dhan Singh Phago, 45, of Phidim-14 who was caught red-handed to police.
Police said the other two are still at large.
In another incident, a woman was found dead at her home in Malangawa Municipality-8 of Sarlahi on Sunday. As per the speculation of police, Kamani Devi Gupta, 45, wife of Binod Gupta, must have set herself on fire after sprinkling petrol on her body. Locals on the other hand say that she was burnt to death by someone else.
Police have arrested the husband of the deceased for investigation. When police reached the site, Binod was found heavily drunk. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gopal Chandra Bhattarai of the District Police Office (DPO), Sarlahi stated that police have expedited investigation into the case.
Binod is an alcoholic while one of his sons is also a drug addict and is currently in a rehab. The couple's two children study in Kathmandu. "We are currently busy investigating the case. Stern action will be taken against the culprit if found provoking the deceased for a suicide," said DSP Bhattarai.
