Man Shamsher Gurung
POKHARA: The body of 18-year-old Suchina Ghale, who was missing for three days after heading to the hills to collect fodder, was discovered buried in a forest in Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality-1 on December 3. Police investigations suggest that the young woman was killed during an attempted sexual assault. But who committed this heinous crime?
Authorities questioned nearly 50 individuals before identifying the suspect – 43-year-old Man Shamser Gurung, a local schoolteacher. During a press briefing on Tuesday, Gorkha police revealed that Man Shamser confessed to the crime. He has admitted to killing the young woman when she resisted his assault, said DSP Indra Prasad Subedi.
After Suchina went missing, her family registered a missing report with the Barpak police. Barpak police sent a team with trained sniffer dogs to scour the forest. The team discovered Suchina’s body buried in a shallow pit. Police also found clues like her basket, sickle, shoes and clothing scattered nearby.
Clues pointed to Man Shamser who had a history of inappropriate behavior toward women. Police questioned him and released him on a general date. Man Shamsher had lied to police and said that he was at home when the incident happened. Police had clues that he had been to the forest. This made police suspicious and he was arrested again.
This time Man Shamser admitted to attempting a sexual assault and accidentally killing the victim when she resisted. Police also uncovered a note in his home that read, “I took the life of an innocent woman,” suggesting that he was contemplating suicide.
The incident occurred on November 30 when Suchina had gone to the hills to collect fodder. As Man Shahsmer, a local of her village, was walking ahead of her, she was not alarmed. However, Man Shamsher tried to assault her when they reached a secluded area. When she resisted, the confrontation turned fatal.
Police confirmed through the post-mortem report that there was no sexual assault. Man Shamser confessed to carrying her body further uphill and burying her by digging a pit.
Suchina had relocated to Barpak nine months ago following her marriage. While pursuing her studies in Kathmandu, she had returned to visit her in-laws and went to the forest to collect fodder during her stay.
