Midnight Murder Followed by Morning Temple Atonement Unveiled

Police have arrested Indian national Rameshkumar Pandit in connection with the murder of 21-year-old Roma Tiwari in Damak Municipality, Jhapa. Authorities report that the victim was killed over a financial dispute and her body was disposed of beneath a bridge over the Ratuwa River. The arrest was made with the aid of CCTV footage. The Damak Police Station is continuing investigations into charges of rape and murder against Pandit.

Biratnagar, 22 Jestha – Police detained 34-year-old Rameshkumar Pandit, originally from Araria, India, residing in Damak, for his alleged involvement in the murder of Roma Tiwari, also known as Roma, from Ward No. 8 of Damak Municipality, aged 21. Following a midnight meeting on 13 Jestha, the murder reportedly occurred due to a transaction dispute. Pandit was arrested on Thursday at his residence in Ward No. 5 of Damak Municipality. After his confession, details of the incident were released on Friday.

Acting spokesperson for Jhapa Police, Inspector Suman Baniya, confirmed that further investigation is ongoing regarding charges of rape and culpable homicide against Pandit.

According to the police, Pandit had been involved in contracts for tile and marble installation in Damak. Investigations revealed meetings between him and the deceased prior to the incident. Police sources stated the murder happened following a dispute near the accused’s lodging.

Midnight Murder and Morning Worship

The police reported the murder occurred around 11 p.m. near the accused’s room. After killing the victim, Pandit reportedly transported the body by packing it in a sack and loaded it onto a motorcycle with Indian number plates. The body was dumped under the bridge in Setumari area, Ward No. 10 of Damak Municipality. The victim’s slippers were found near the crime scene.

The body was disposed of on 13 Jestha. Locals discovered it under the Ratuwa River bridge on 16 Jestha and notified authorities. The suspect was arrested based on CCTV footage. Pandit admitted to knowing the victim for some time, and the two had met the night of the incident.

Police sources disclosed that after committing the murder and disposing of the body, Pandit could not sleep. On the morning of 14 Jestha, he went to Pashupatinath Temple in Damak to perform atonement rituals and prayers.

“It appears the murder was motivated by fear of defamation after nighttime noise. After disposing of the body, he sought forgiveness the next morning at the temple,” said a police source. “An Indian-plated motorcycle was used in disposing of the body.”

Once the victim was identified, her relatives mentioned that she had met her boyfriend on the night of 13 Jestha at his invitation and was then murdered. Initially, police suspected her boyfriend, but lacking evidence, investigations widened and eventually led to Pandit.

The investigation was carried out by a team led by DSP Haribahadur Basnet of Damak Police Station.