Murder after kidnapping in Dhanusha

KATHMANDU: A 25-year-old man, Shiva Shankar Mahato, has been brutally murdered after being kidnapped in Dhanusha.

His body was found in the Sagar Nath forest area of Gaushala Municipality-8, Mahottari.

The body was discovered in a naked state, about 100 meters south of the railway track. Police confirmed that the victim had deep knife wounds on his body, suggesting a brutal attack.

Though the body was found on Friday evening, it was only on Saturday that the victim’s identity was confirmed. Initial investigations by the Mahottari police have raised suspicions that the murder could have been premeditated.

According to family members, Shiva Shankar was traveling with his wife, Srijana, and their 10-month-old son to her parental home in Bardibas Municipality-5, Pashupatinagar, on Thursday afternoon.

The family had initially traveled together on a motorcycle up to Mahendranagar, after which Srijana borrowed two motorcycles from her relatives. She and the child traveled on one motorcycle, while Shiva Shankar took the other.

It was only after receiving a call from the Mahottari police on Friday that the family learned of his tragic fate.

Shiva Shankar’s brother, Ram Mahato, revealed that there had been a dispute at Shiva’s in-laws’ house recently, which made him reluctant to return.

However, Srijana insisted, telling him that her grandfather had passed away, leading him to go.

The police are currently investigating the case, considering it to be a possible pre-planned crime.