DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇵 Nepal /Crime & Justice

Sunsari shooting victims’ families refuse bodies despite government agreement

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Families of two youths killed in a shooting incident in Sunsari, Nepal, have refused to accept the bodies despite a government agreement.
  • The agreement included declaring the victims martyrs, providing financial relief, and offering employment, but funerals are delayed as families coordinate with other districts.
  • The incident occurred during a dispute that escalated into violence, leading to security forces opening fire and resulting in multiple injuries and deaths.

Despite a formal agreement reached Thursday night, families of two youths killed in a shooting incident in Sunsari, Nepal, have not yet accepted the bodies. Relatives traveled to Biratnagar to retrieve the bodies but returned without them due to opposition from local residents and family members. This has delayed funerals scheduled for Friday.

Sunsari Chief District Officer Ishwari Aryal stated that the administration and police are continuing efforts to implement the agreement and facilitate the body handover. A family member, Dilip Mehta, explained they are coordinating with families of victims from other districts to conduct a joint funeral once all agreements are finalized.

The incident occurred Sunday night when a dispute in Kaptanganj escalated into violence, prompting security forces to open fire. Om Prakash Mehta, 25, died at the scene, and Jaya Prakash Mehta, 22, died later from injuries. Both bodies are at the Neuro Hospital mortuary.

The agreement, signed by Home Minister Sudan Gurung and victim representatives, includes declaring the deceased as martyrs, providing 1 million Nepalese rupees to each family, legal action against those responsible, employment for one family member each, implementing investigation committee recommendations, and constructing a memorial park. However, the process has stalled.

People have died in other districts as well. We plan to collect all the bodies at once and conduct a joint funeral.

— Dilip MehtaA member of the victims’ family explaining the delay in accepting the bodies and holding funerals.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog