BAITADI: A yarsagumba trader was found dead in Darchula district on Wednesday. Police have suspected that it was a murder case.

DSP Sushil Singh Rathaur of the Darchula District Police Office said Jaman Singh Mahata, a permanent resident of Hopari, Sipti-3 of the district, was found dead.

His body was recovered on the bank of Chameliya River, in Ghusa-8 of the district today.

Earlier on Tuesday, police had found a pistol, five rounds of bullets, a bloodstained knife, one tola yarsagumba and Rs 999,000 among others near the incident site.

After finding the items, police had intensified the probe and found a yarsa collection permit issued in the name of Jaman Singh Mahata.

Local Kamal Rokaya had found the suspicious articles and informed police yesterday.

Meanwhile, the DPO deployed a team led by DSP Sushil Singh Rathaur for further investigation.

The incident site is two days' walk from the district headquarters.

Yarsagumba, which has various medicinal values and is also referred to as ‘Himalayan Viagra’, is considered one of the most expensive bio-resources available in the world today.

Currently, China is the largest producer of yarsagumba and meets 95 per cent of the world demand. Then, Nepal is the second largest supplier of this fungus, with official annual production standing at three tonnes.

Yarsagumba is collected at commercial level from 12 districts in Nepal — Darchula, Dolpa, Jumla, Mugu, Bajang, Rukum, Myagdi, Manang, Gorkha, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchok and Sankhuwasabha.