Locals demand probe into ‘mysterious’ death

Damauli, September 21

Local residents of Jumdanda in Bandipur Municipality, Tanahun, today picketed the District Police Office demanding investigation into the ‘mysterious’ death of fellow villager Rabin Gurung.

After the 35-year-old was found dead on the roadside at Satrasaya, in Anbukhaireni Municipality-1 on Monday night, his kin and locals today flocked the police office in district headquarters Damauli, seeking investigation into the incident.

Identifying Gurung’s death as murder, the locals sought a fair investigation into the incident and action against those involved.

“Several indicators, including condition of the body and the incident site, clearly show that this incident is a murder. It seems Gurung was attacked and killed, but the police have described it as a hit-and-run case of road accident, which is quite doubtful,” said the brother of the deceased, Yam Bahadur.

He added that police had removed the body from the incident site without even informing the family of the deceased.

“He has received a deep wound on his head, his right arm is fractured at two places and the whole body is covered with bruises. He must have been attacked, killed and dumped on the roadside,” said the deceased’s wife Sukamaya, who threatened to continue the protest until the incident is investigated and culprits are brought to book.

Gurung is survived by his wife and three children.

DSP Surendra Bahadur Gurung, of DPO, said investigation into the incident was under way. “Considering the nature of the incident, it could be a case of murder. We’ve detained a suspect and are carrying out our investigation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the kin of the deceased received the body today and carried out the final rites on the banks of the Seti River.