POKHARA: Police said a 30-year-old local of Dhital village near Pokhara murdered an American woman in the city last month.

The Kaski District Police Office (DPO) said Narayan Prasad Paudel from Dhital VDC-2 murdered Dohila Yehai (27), a US citizen, on August 7.

Police made the incident public only on Friday, after arresting the suspect on Thursday.

Preliminary police investigations suggested that the woman was hit with a hammer and a lathi while she was asleep at Paudel's rented room in Simpani, Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City-1.

He then threw the body into the Seti River from the KI Singh Bridge, according to DPO spokesperson DSP Govinda Adhikari.

Police have begun interrogating Paudel about the incident. He has confessed the crime, according to Adhikari.

The motive behind the murder, however, is not yet ascertained.

Police claimed that Paudel had contacted the American lady via internet and invited her to Pokhara on an earthquake relief support programme.

Yehai was living with Paudel since three days before the crime.

The body, however, is still missing and police have expedited the search, police said.

Suspect jumps off DPO

Meanwhile, the suspect jumped off the roof of DPO building on Friday, severely injuring himself.

While being interrogated, he had sought a time to answer the call of nature. But, the man, put out of handcuff, went to the roof and jumped off, police said.

Paudel broke his leg and is undergoing treatment at the Manipal Teaching Hospital.