Six, including family members, arrested for Chun Kumari’s murder

ITAHARI: The gruesome murder of a 34-year-old woman in Dhahran’s Panchakanya Community Forest was masterminded by her husband from South Korea, police investigations reveal.

The body of Chunkumari Dahal, originally from Mahalaxmi-2 of Dhankuta and residing in Itahari-2, was discovered in the forest on March 25. It took the police three days to identify the victim.

After a preliminary investigation, the police have concluded that the incident was a family conspiracy driven by marital discord and suspicion.

Police have arrested six people for investigation into the incident. They include Chun Kumari’s husband Prem Kumari Budhathoki (31), Prem’s brother Dhakendra Budhathoki and Dhakendra’s wife Shristi Budhathoki, Prem’s sister Denu Gautam and her husband Yogendra Gautam and Keshab Raj Dahal. Indian national Raju Thapa Magar, who is said to be Prem Bahadur’s cousin, is on the run.

Prem was arrested upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu on Thursday morning.

“The murder was meticulously planned, Chief of Sunsari District Police Office, SP Suman Kumar Timsina, said. “Investigations point to Budhathoki’s suspicions about his wife. There are also some financial motives.”

According to police, the victim was lured to the forest by Yogendra under the pretense of a family visit, where she was strangled and beaten to death.

Police have secured an eight-day remand for the six suspects for questioning.