Police arrested Sandip Wali, 20, originally from Banglachuli Rural Municipality-8, currently residing in Rapti Rural Municipality-4, along with Nischal Chaudhary, 18, of Maurighat, Rapti Rural Municipality, and a 17-year-old girl on charges of allegedly killing Smrit Pradhan, 17.
Smrit Pradhan of Rapti Rural Municipality–2 and Ayushman Thapa Magar, 16 of Rapti Rural Municipality–1, who had gone to meet friends, were attacked on the night of April 2 by unidentified individuals using sharp weapons and were beaten. Smrit Pradhan, who was injured in the attack, was later found dead on April 3 in a canal in Rapti Rural Municipality–4. Meanwhile, the injured Ayushman Thapa Magar, who managed to escape, received primary treatment at Rapti Basic Hospital and was then referred to Bhairahawa Medical College for further treatment, according to Inspector Baburam Basnet of the District Police Office, Dang.
The postmortem of the body was conducted on April 4 at Lamahi Hospital, after which the body was handed over to the family, and last rites were performed according to tradition. Police reported that items used in the assault, including stones, a knife, a piece of bamboo, plastic rope, and a mobile phone, were recovered from the incident site. The District Police Office, Dang, stated that the accused have been taken into custody and an investigation has been initiated.