Nawalparasi, February 13
For the past 10 months, 70-year-old Dhanmaya Sarki of Kawasoti Municipality-4, Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East), has been living in anguish. Ever since she learned about the murder of her daughter, Tilamaya Sarki, in Malaysia, she has been in distress, unable to stop her tears.
Tilamaya, 25, had last called her mother on April 8 (Mata Tirtha Aunsi) to mark Mother’s Day. A week later, another call informed the family of her tragic death. Since then, Dhanmaya has been restless, desperately waiting for her daughter’s body to return home.
Tilamaya had moved to Malaysia for work after divorcing her husband, leaving her six-year-old daughter in her mother’s care. However, despite completing all paperwork, neither her body nor any financial compensation has been received. Dhanmaya has been visiting local offices for months, but her pleas remain unheard.
Her elder daughter, Nilamaya Sarki, expressed concerns over the delay, fearing they might miss out on government compensation. The Safe Migration Project (SaMi) confirmed that legal processes in Malaysia are causing the delay. A Pakistani national has been charged with Tilamaya’s murder, and authorities claim the investigation must conclude before repatriating the body.
According to the Foreign Employment Board, financial aid applications must be submitted within a year of death. Spokesperson Tikaram Dhakal stated that Malaysia has not yet issued the death certificate, further delaying the process.
As per Safe Migration Center data, 18 individuals from Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East) have died abroad this fiscal year, with three bodies yet to be repatriated.
—RSS
