POKHARA: Preliminary police investigation into death of a teenage girl in Pokhara revealed that the 19-year-old was murdered by her friend for denying sex.

Parading the suspect amid a press conference in Pokhara today, SP Hari Bahadur Pal said Kirtan Khadgi aka Satish (21) killed Yoruna Pun aka Neha by hitting her with his helmet on February 1.

Pun's half-naked body was recovered nearby her home the following morning while Khadgi was nabbed from Pokhara on February 3.

The police official said both Khadgi and Pun had boozed together at a New Road-based restaurant in the Lake City till 9 in the evening on February 1, before the suspect offered her a ride on his motorbike to her home in Nayagaun.

When they reached very close to the girl's home, Khadgi proposed her to have sex, which Neha vehemently denied. She also shouted at him using some obscene words and it apparently infuriated Khadgi, police informed at the press conference today attributing to the suspect's statements.

The enraged Khadgi then hit his friend's head with his helmet apparently in a bid to force her to give in. The girl fell down and he tried to quench his thirst.

But, when he began removing her clothes, he noticed blood over her head and ran away from the scene, according to police.

The victim's body was found on the spot the next day.

DSP Gajusiddi Bajracharya said police had interrogated over 20 persons to investigate into the case.

Khadgi was nabbed on February 3, but he confessed the crime only after repeated interrogations, Bajracharya, who had led the operation, added.

The DPO had formed an investigation team under the command of DSP Bajracharya, comprising Police Inspectors Devi Paudel and Ganga Thapa, Sub-Inspectors Ram Bahadur Adhikari and Sudarshan Lamsal and Assistant Sub-Inspectors Yuvaraj Karki and Bhadra Krishna Paudel.

Bajracharya said the investigation was still underway as Khadki had not spoken much about the incident.

Meanwhile, police said it was not yet confirmed whether the victim was raped before the murder.

Khadgi runs a pool house in New Road while Pun was working at a nearby café as a front desk officer.

Police said Khadgi would introduce Pun among his friends as a sister.