PALPA, March 29: A person accused of murdering a teenage girl in Ribdikot, Palpa, on March 26 has been arrested. A 19-year-old Padma Sunar of Ribdikot-1, Khwaha in Palpa, was murdered on March 26.

Devlal Sarki, a 19-year-old resident of Lapsikhola in the same ward, has been identified as the alleged perpetrator of the crime. The District Police Office Palpa made this announcement during a press conference. According to the police, Sarki allegedly killed Sunar in a fit of rage while she was on her way to wash clothes.

The incident arose from a confrontation between Sarki, who had taken a sickle after working in the jungle, and  Sunar, who was at the local tap washing clothes. DSP Sugandh Shrestha of the District Police Office said that Sarki was unable to control his anger and struck Sunar from behind with the sickle, resulting in her death.

Sarki confessed to the police that even after Sunar attempted to flee, he attacked her again with a sickle, about 20 meters away. After the murder, he took Sunar’s mobile with him.

Sunar, a Grade 12 student, had gone to a local tap two kilometers from her home, to wash clothes. Concerned when she did not return home by 3 PM after leaving at 9 AM, her family started searching for her. The family members found Sunar’s dead body in the forest around 4 PM on Tuesday. After the incident, relatives informed the police.

A trained dog was brought from Bhairahawa to track down the perpetrator. During the investigation, Sarki admitted to the murder, police said. Sunar’s body has been sent to Lumbini Regional Hospital for a post-mortem.

 
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