A shocking case has emerged in Kathmandu, where the body of an unidentified woman was found in the Bagmati River near Nami College, Gokarneshwar Municipality-7, last Saturday around noon.
A man, who had entered the river for religious offerings, noticed a large bundle submerged in the water. Upon closer inspection, he saw a human hand protruding from a sack wrapped in a bedsheet. Alarmed, he informed nearby people, who then alerted the police.
A joint team from the Metropolitan Police Circle Boudha, Kathmandu District Police Range, and the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office arrived at the scene. Upon retrieval, they discovered the body of a woman, estimated to be around 30-35 years old, packed inside the sack.
Six arrested, including a minor
The police launched an investigation, sending the body for post-mortem at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. So far, six individuals, including a minor, have been arrested in connection with the case.
The arrested suspects have been identified as:
- Kailash Khadka (25) from Bagmati, Sarlahi
- Suresh Tamang (20) from Shikharpani, Hetauda, Makwanpur
- Roshan Tamang (24) from Meghang-4, Deurali, Nuwakot
- Pooja Pariyar (20) from Tipeni, Sindhupalchok
- Pemba Tamang
- A minor whose details have not been disclosed
According to SP Apilraj Bohora, spokesperson for the Kathmandu District Police Range, the court has granted six days of judicial custody for further investigation.
Victim’s identity still unknown
Despite arrests, the identity of the deceased woman remains unconfirmed.
While the suspects claimed she was from Okhaldhunga, police have yet to verify this information, said DSP Jayeshwar Rimal of the Boudha Police Circle.
Suspects were daily wage workers
According to police, the arrested individuals were daily wage labourers working in areas such as Mahankal, Boudha, Jorpati, and Narayantar.
Both the deceased woman and suspect Pooja Pariyar worked in a hotel, washing dishes. Police sources revealed that they would only work until they ran out of money, after which they would resume work again.
“They had no fixed residence. They worked only when they needed money and stopped once they had enough,” an investigating officer said.
The suspects also admitted to consuming alcohol and marijuana regularly, including on the night of the incident.
Incident took place on March 4 night
According to investigators, the incident occurred on the night of March 4. The deceased woman, along with suspects Pooja Pariyar, Kailash Khadka, and Suresh Tamang, had stayed together in Pooja’s rented room that night after consuming alcohol and marijuana.
The next morning, both Kailash and Suresh had fled the room. When Pooja tried to wake the woman, she was unresponsive and was later found dead. Pariyar claims they did not kill her.
Police say no visible injuries were found on the body, making the case suspicious. The other suspects also claim they panicked upon discovering her dead in the morning and decided to dispose of the body.
Body kept for four days before disposal
After discovering the death, Pooja informed the other suspects, who helped cover the body and keep it hidden in the room for four days. Fearing the smell would attract attention, they eventually wrapped it in a sack and bedsheet before dumping it in the Bagmati River.
CCTV footage confirmed that four individuals were seen carrying the sack and dumping it into the river at around 4 am on Saturday.
Arrests made based on CCTV footage
Following the discovery of the body, police analysed CCTV footage and identified the suspects. Pooja was arrested from Lokanthali while returning from Sindhupalchok, where she had gone after disposing of the body.
On Monday, Pemba Tamang was arrested from Mahankal Bari, while the remaining four were apprehended from a rented room near the Radha Krishna Temple in Gothatar.
According to SP Bohora, all six suspects are now in custody, and no additional individuals are believed to be involved in the case.
Police say the cause of death remains unclear and will be confirmed after the post-mortem report.
