Kathmandu, August 20

A government employee, Bachchuram KC, was found dead in the office of National Planning Commission, Singha Durbar, here today. Police suspect he committed suicide by consuming insecticide.

Bachchuram, who was in his early 50s, was a non-gazetted first class officer and headed the store section of the NPC. His body was found in a meeting hall on the second floor of the office this morning by NPC employees, who informed police about it.

Police found a jar of insecticide tablets and banana peals near his body.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Kaushal Budhathoki, in-charge at Singha Durbar-based Metropolitan Police Circle, said apparently Bachchuram consumed insecticide along with bananas.

Bachchuram, a father of two, left the office at 5:27pm yesterday after finishing work. At around 6:00pm he was in Unique Fast Food Cafe, opposite Singha Durbar’s eastern gate. He was a frequent visitor to the cafe. Last night he was accompanied by two friends. Police have kept the identities of his friends secret for further investigation.

Cafe owner Indra Prakash Shrestha told THT that the trio drank half a bottle of whisky. “They left the restaurant between 8:15pm and 8:30pm in sober condition. Bachchuram signed the account book stating that he partied with friends on credit.” The bill amount was around Rs 4,700.

A CCTV footage of the cafe shows that he went out carrying a blue plastic bag with six bananas.

DSP Budhathoki said instead of going home, Bachchuram went back to his office through the southern gate. The CCTV footage of the NPC showed that he entered the office around 11:00pm. His colleagues said Bachchuram didn’t go home when he was drunk and slept inside the office.

Police said they found a suicide note from his wallet which states that he killed himself and no one should be blamed for his death.

DSP Hobindra Bogati, spokesperson for Teku-based Metropolitan Police Range, who read the note’s contents, said, “He apologised to his wife for not being able to provide her with quality life.”

Bachchuram had a chequered past and was arrested for  issuing fake Nepali passports to two Bangladeshi nationals when he was working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2010. He was suspended for some time following the case, according to his colleagues.

He was related to lawmaker Rajendra KC, who hails from Taudaha in Kirtipur Municipality.

His body has been sent to the forensic department of TU Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, for post-mortem.