MORANG, Dec 7: Police have arrested a neighbour on the charge of raping and murdering 13-year-old Anshu Gautam of Letang Municipality–2, School Chowk. Morang Police Chief SP Kabit Katwal said 59-year-old Padam Bahadur Adhikari was taken into custody for his involvement in the incident. She informed at a press conference in Biratnagar on Sunday that the suspect has been remanded for seven days for further investigation.
Anshu had gone missing on October 7 after leaving home in the afternoon, and her mutilated body was recovered on October 24 from the Belbari–Chisang Community Forest. Although she disappeared on October 7, police received the missing report only on October 8, SP Katwal said. Search operations were carried out immediately with support from the Nepal Army, but no clues were found until an extended investigation revealed details of the crime. A team led by a DSP, including CIB, provincial police and district police personnel, had been stationed at the site for detailed investigation.
SP Katwal said initial observation of the site indicated rape and murder, and during preliminary interrogation, Adhikari admitted to committing the crime. While evidence so far shows he acted alone, police said further investigation is ongoing to confirm if others were involved.
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Anshu's head and body were found separated and severely decomposed around four kilometres from her home. The condition of the body made the investigation difficult as many pieces of evidence had been destroyed. Police said she was likely murdered on the same day she disappeared. They also suspect the crime may have been planned due to previous disputes with her parents.
SP Katwal described the case as sensitive and challenging, noting that decomposition delayed scientific examination. Police profiled over 300 individuals, conducted polygraph tests on several suspects and carried out technical and forensic checks before making the arrest.
Postmortem, DNA and forensic lab reports are still awaited, and police said additional details will come after all reports are received.
According to police, Anshu had been playing with a friend when Adhikari sent the friend away with five rupees and asked Anshu to meet him near the forest to help cut grass. He reached the forest on his bicycle, took her to a deeper section, raped her and killed her by strangling and slitting her throat with a sickle. He later joined villagers in search efforts and stayed in the village for a few days before leaving for Meghalaya, India. Police called him back, and he was arrested upon his return.
