It has been confirmed that Prema Oli, who was found dead in Bheriganga, Surkhet, was murdered. Oli, a 26-year-old resident of Gurbhakot Municipality–5, was discovered dead on Sunday in the Jhingenara stream of Bheriganga Municipality–12.
According to DSP Mohan Jung Budha Thapa, spokesperson for the District Police Office, Surkhet, the murderer is none other than her husband, 29-year-old Darshan Khatri. Police say he confessed to killing Prema during interrogation.
Her body was found face down in the water early Sunday morning. Relatives arrived at the scene later in the evening and identified the body.
The body was found approximately one kilometer from Chinchu Bazaar on the Ratna Highway, on the Chinchu–Subbakuna road section. Although the incident occurred Saturday evening, no one saw the body earlier as it was in a stream within a forested area.
Around 10 a.m. Sunday, locals who had gone to collect wild dates (locally known as “Thakal”) spotted the body and informed the Chinchu police. DSP Budhathapa said a police team arrived at the scene and launched an investigation.
A canine unit was also brought from Nepalgunj to aid the investigation. On Sunday evening, police detained Darshan Khatri on suspicion of murder. “Preliminary investigations pointed to the husband,” said DSP Budha Thapa. “During interrogation, he eventually confessed to the murder.”
Initially, Darshan was hesitant and denied the crime. Police observed that he was anxious, disoriented, and gave inconsistent statements, which led to his arrest.
Background of the Incident
Darshan from Gurbhakot Municipality–5 and Prema from Ward No. 6 of Mehelkuna had a love marriage seven years ago. Two years after their marriage, they had a daughter. Soon after, Darshan joined the Nepal Army and was stationed at the Bir Dal Battalion in Kavre.
While serving in the army, Darshan reportedly became involved with other women. When Prema learned about it, she informed her family. This created mistrust in their relationship. Though Darshan apologized and promised not to repeat the mistake, he continued the affairs, according to his statement to police. Prema eventually began questioning him more frequently.
This led to frequent quarrels and instances of domestic violence over the past five years. Prema had been staying at her maternal home with her daughter.
Darshan had returned to Chinchu on Saturday evening after taking leave. He had asked Prema to meet him in Chinchu Bazaar, which was also evident from WhatsApp chats recovered by police. Prema had informed her family that she was going to Chinchu to collect items Darshan had sent through a friend.
She left her daughter at home and went to meet him. Initially, the couple talked peacefully, but soon an argument erupted. “They walked toward the forest while arguing,” DSP Budhathapa quoted Darshan as saying. “There, they started checking each other’s mobile phones.”
Prema had no idea that the meeting with her husband would cost her life. Though quarrels between them were not new, this time it turned fatal.
The couple argued until around 7 p.m. in the Jhingenara forest. In a fit of rage, Darshan struck Prema on the head with a stone, and then strangled her with her own scarf, according to his statement. “She collapsed after the blow. Then he used her scarf to strangle her,” said DSP Thapa. “After killing her, he dumped the body in a water-filled ditch.”
Police believe mutual suspicion between the couple led to the incident. “Prema kept accusing Darshan of having an affair, and Darshan too suspected her. That’s what escalated into a murder,” said DSP Thapa.
Darshan returned to his home in Gurbhakot at around 8 p.m. on Saturday night after the incident. He confessed to acting alone and cited mutual suspicion as the main reason behind the crime.
He told police that the early years of their marriage were good, but increasing distrust strained the relationship over the past five years.
Last Bhadra (August/September), when Darshan had returned home on leave, Prema reportedly caught him talking to another woman. “The issue had reached her maternal family,” said Prema’s uncle Ishwar Khadka. “We tried to resolve it back then, but that very resentment has now taken our niece’s life.”
As the domestic conflict intensified, it ultimately led to the husband murdering his wife, police confirmed. The court has extended Darshan’s custody for further investigation. Prema’s body has been taken to the Provincial Hospital in Kalagaun for post-mortem.
