Police have arrested Umesh Saud, 24 of Shailyashikhar Municipality–9, Baskot, and 24-year-old Gopal Nath of Dilasaini Rural Municipality–5, Lathkekoth, Baitadi district, on Falgun 1 on charges of killing Laxmi Joshi, 71 on the night of February 9, in Debal, Shailyashikhar Municipality–8.
According to Inspector Hemraj Bhatt of the District Police Office, Darchula, preliminary investigation revealed that the elderly woman was killed inside her home and the jewelry she was wearing was looted. The accused have been arrested and further investigation is ongoing.
Inspector Bhatt stated that two earrings appearing to be gold, one nose ring, and one nose stud looted from the deceased have also been recovered from the accused.
The body of the elderly woman was found on February 10, behind her house after being dumped there. A post-mortem examination was conducted on 11 February at Gokuleshwar Hospital, Darchula, and the body was cremated by relatives the same day, Inspector Bhatt said.