Bhairahawa, April 29

The body of a woman was found on the banks of the Banganga River at Balapur of Banganga Municipality, Kapilvastu today.

Ward chair Guna Nidhi Bhusal identified the deceased as Sunita Tharu, 21. According to Bhusal, Tharu has received deep cuts on her head.

The kin of deceased Tharu suspect she might have been murdered by family members. Her husband Suresh Tharu had taken her to bathe in the Banganga River yesterday to beat the heat, said locals. Suresh had returned home alone and Sunita’s body was recovered today which has made the incident suspicious, said Kapilvastu District Police Office.

Police have arrested Suresh and two others and launched an investigation, said SP Acyutam Pudasaini. The body has been taken to District Hospital for post-mortem. “The probe will be easy once the post-mortem report comes,” said SP Pudasaini.

Sunita and Suresh had a love marriage. Her father Tulashi Tharu accused Sunita’s family of torturing and beating her to death. A case was filed against Sunita’s mother-in-law and sister-in-law for tormenting and thrashing her at Pipara Area Police Office a few days ago.