Khotang, June 21

Khotang’s Kaflechhap Drinking Water Consumers’ Committee Chairperson Peshal Dahal has been missing for the past three days. A resident of Sapteshwor Chhitapokhari in Diprung Chuichumma Rural Municipality, Dahal, 44, has been out of contact since Tuesday night.

“His jacket and a torn vest was found near Panchami bazaar the next morning. Later his belongings vanished from the site, which has made the incident mysterious,”said Bhupendra Rai, chair of Chuichumma Rural Municipality. Dahal’s mobile phone has been switched off.

According to sources, a message was sent from the missing man’s mobile phone to his daughter’s mobile phone on Thursday, saying he was kidnapped but had escaped and was safe. It was also stated in the SMS the message should be kept confidential.

According to Diprung Chuichumma Rural Municipality Ward No 5 Chairperson Purna Bahadur Khadka, the text of the message that was written using Unicode has made the incident mysterious.

“According to Dahal’s family members, he never texted using Unicode. So the message sent, that too without any errors, has made them suspicious,” said Khadka.

Inspector Keshav Kumar Katawal of Khotang District Police Office said a police team has been deployed for the search and rescue of the missing man.