PARBAT: A woman hailing from Parbat district headquarters, Kusma, allegedly swindled locals of Butwal of Rs 40 million and over 60 tola of gold jewellery and fled.

The suspect is named as Jamuna Kunwar of Sajhachok, Kusma. According to victims, Kunwar collected cash and ornaments from several women under different pretexts.

She had been residing in Butwal for the past four years and won hearts of her neighbours. She disappeared on August 6, ringing alarm bells in the mind of people who trusted and given her fortune.

Jamuna Kunwar left Butwal on the pretext of seeing of her husband who was allegedly going abroad for foreign employment and did not come back, according to Prema Shrestha, an alleged victim.

"She had said her mother was struggling with blood cancer. We did not think otherwise when she asked money to take her mother to Delhi for treatment," Shrestha said.

It has been learned that Kunwar borrowed up to Rs 5 million from a single person.

The alleged victims have already lodged complaint against Kunwar at the Crime Investigation Division Hanumandhoka, according to Shrestha.

Kunwar is accused of defrauding several people of Rs 1 million in Kusma before she moved to Butwal.

Born in Dhairing VDC of Parbat, she married a local resident of Kusma. The couple have two daughters.