Body of missing hunter found after 17 days in Bardiya; five still missing

SURKHET: The body of Top Bahadur Khatri (33), who went missing while hunting in Bardiya National Park on March 7, has been recovered after 17 days.

Five others, who had accompanied Top Bahadur, are still missing.

According to DSP Mohan Jung Budhthapa of the District Police Office, Surkhet, the body was found in the Jhankrikhola area in Thakurbaba-2 of Bardiya on Monday.

The area lies within the national park.

“The victim’s brother-in-law, Aase Mahatara, has identified the body,” Budhthapa said.

According to DSP Budhthapa, the whereabouts of five others are still unknown.

Those missing include Resham Samseli (25), Rabilal Damai (41), Ram Bahadur Gharti (34), and Sunil Samseli (30), all from Jyamire in Barahatal Rural Municipality–1, and Durga Bahadur Sijali (45) from Gangate in Lekbeshi Municipality–8 of Surkhet.

The police were informed of their disappearance only on March 15 by Mahatara. He had told police that six individuals, including his brother-in-law Top Bahadur, had gone about 17 kilometers south of their village into the national park for hunting.

After receiving the report, the District Police Office, Surkhet, had mobilized teams from Ranighat Police Post and Area Police Offices in Bagnaha, Baniyabhar, and Babiyachaur. During a search operation on March 17, police recovered a country-made firearm and five rounds of ammunition hidden inside a cave in Sugarkhal of Barahatal–1.

A joint search operation is currently underway involving 31 personnel from the Nepal Army’s Jabarjung Battalion, along with police teams and national park rangers.

“Further investigation into the incident and the search for the remaining missing individuals are underway,” DSP Budhathapa said.