The mysterious deaths of two teenagers in the Sunghar Community Forest of Dhakari Village Municipality-1 have left the local community in shock and grief. The bodies of 15-year-old Saraswati Khadka and 14-year-old Ishwara Khadka, who had been missing since Friday, were discovered in the forest on Saturday evening. Both girls had gone to graze goats on Friday and were found dead the following day. The incident has raised numerous questions, with the families of the deceased alleging foul play. The police, however, have yet to determine the exact cause of death, leaving the case shrouded in mystery.
On Sunday, a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ishwari Prasad Bhandari and Chief District Officer (CDO) Shiv Prasad Lamsal arrived at the scene to investigate the incident. Despite a thorough examination of the area, the police have not yet uncovered any concrete evidence to explain how the girls died. DSP Bhandari stated, “We have studied the scene and returned, but so far, no facts have emerged about how the incident occurred. We will conduct a postmortem, and more details may come to light afterward.” The bodies of both girls have been sent to Nepalgunj for postmortem examinations, as the local hospital in Achham lacks the necessary facilities for such procedures. DSP Bhandari also revealed that trained sniffer dogs were used in the investigation to gather more clues.
According to DSP Bhandari, the bodies of the two teenagers were found in separate locations within the forest. Ishwara’s body was discovered approximately 20 meters from the trail, with severe head injuries and a deep wound on her forehead. Her body appeared to be stuck in a bush, with her head positioned lower than the rest of her body. Saraswati’s body was found about 16 meters uphill from Ishwara’s location, lying face down. Police reported that Saraswati’s leg was fractured.
The deaths have plunged the entire village into mourning, with locals expressing fear and insecurity. Saraswati and Ishwara were related as aunt and niece, and their families have strongly alleged that the girls were murdered. Saraswati’s mother, Tara Khadka, has demanded a thorough investigation and justice for her daughter. She appealed to CDO Lamsal, who visited the scene, to take strict action against those responsible. Ishwara’s sister-in-law, Krishna Khadka, also echoed the sentiment, stating, “If it was just one person, we might have thought it was an accident. But how could two people die in the same manner? The police must arrest those involved.”
The police have taken two individuals into custody for questioning as part of their investigation. While no concrete leads have been established yet, authorities are working diligently to uncover the truth behind this tragic incident. As the community awaits the results of the postmortem and further investigation, the mysterious deaths of Saraswati and Ishwara have left a deep scar on Dhakari Village, raising concerns about safety and justice in the region.