KATHMANDU: A police investigation has revealed that Bhagarathi Bhatta of Baitadi was murdered in a pre-planned manner over a feud between two neighboring families.
The investigation carried out by the law enforcement agency found out that Dinesh Bhatta arrested on the charge of raping and killing 17-year-old Bhagarathi of Dogadakedar Rural Municipality-7 of Baitadi had been waiting on the road for an hour and a half before the incident.
Bhagarathi used to study in class 12 and Dinesh in class 11 and are siblings by relationships.
A preliminary investigation by the police has shown that Dinesh had skipped two classes on February 3 and had waited on the road to kill her.
Initially, Dinesh said that he went home only after classes were over but later admitted that he left early, according to police officials.
Bhatta, a 17-year-old student of Dogadakedar-7, Chadepani had gone missing while returning from school to her home on February 3.
She was found murdered after the rape and her dead body was recovered on February 4. The incident had taken place between 2:40 pm and 2:47 pm.
However, sources said that Dinesh, who confessed to the murder, had given a statement that he was not involved in the rape.
Citing Dinesh’s statement after the arrest, a police source said, “I was already sitting on the road. Bhagarathi was heading to her destination eating noodles. At first, I threw her book and then pushed her from behind. She fell and fainted, and I strangled her. ”
A police source said that Dinesh admitted that he killed Bhagarathi to take revenge for his aunt.
“There is an old feud between the two neighboring families. The accused has given a statement that he raped Bhatta in a rivalry,” said an official involved in the investigation.
Sources said that he had given a statement to the police even though he had tried to kill her before.
A police source said that Dinesh told police that he had attempted to rape after Bhagarathi fell unconscious.
According to Dinesh, he threw away the battery of Bhagarathi’s mobile phone after the murder. After that, he was going to school regularly.
He had also attended a protest rally demanding to take action against Bhagarathi’s murderer(s).
The law enforcement agency is preparing to make public the man who is also Bhagarathi’s neighbor through a press conference on Wednesday.
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