UDAYAPUR: A 13-year-old girl from Rautamai Rural Municipality was found dead on Sunday noon at a place named Amala in Lafagaun. The victim, who had gone to herd the goats, was missing from Saturday afternoon.

The minor's relatives and locals started looking for her, the search extending through the night, after she did not return till late in the evening on Saturday. She was found at 2:00 pm on Sunday, but it was already too late.

“Police have started a detailed investigation into the case and the circumstances evidently appear dubious. We suspect this is a case of rape and murder. It can be ascertained after the medical examination reports are out,” Chief of Udayapur District Police Office, Superintendent of Police Chandra Dev Rai said.

Police have deployed a team including trained dogs for investigation.

“A team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Arjun Ranabhat has been deployed for investigations,” added SP Rai.

The girl’s body was recovered from a location which is 100 metres north from her home. A napkin was found in the victim’s mouth while there were scratch marks on her face. The girl’s clothes were torn, according to the chief of Rautamai Rural Municipality Gajendra Khadka.

The victim’s family and relatives have demanded that the culprit be identified and brought to book at the soonest.