Rautahat, December 22

An unidentified group killed owner of a private school at Barhathawa Municipality in Sarlahi last night.

Malik Mahato, 30, of Barhathawa-5 was the owner of Vision Boarding School at Jirayal of DhungreKhola Rural Municipality, said District Police Office, Sarlahi.

Police said there was a deep cut in the victim’s head and the body was found on the banks of  Soti River this morning.

Family members said he went out after somebody called him when he was about to eat his meal. They added that he said on the phone that he would come home soon. “He went out of contact after that,” they added.

The relatives said they would not receive the body until the culprits were arrested. The body was sent to the district hospital after Superintendent of Police Poshraj Pokhrel assured that the culprits would be arrested soon.

Mahato is survived by wife and two sons.  Police said trained dogs from Hetauda were sent to the crime scene as part of investigation. SP Pokhrel claimed that they were close to identifying the culprits.