The body of a young man, who had been missing since the death of a woman he stayed with at a hotel in Pinglasthan, Kathmandu, was discovered hanging from a tree in a forest in Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-3, Sisneri, Okhaldhunga, four days later. Chief District Officer of Okhaldhunga, Narayan Dhakal, confirmed the discovery on Saturday.

On Tuesday, 21-year-old Susmita Khadka of Kageshwari Manohara-2 and 23-year-old Tek Bahadur Thapa from Okhaldhunga checked into the Bagmati Hotel in Pinglasthan. The following morning, on New Year’s Day, Khadka was found dead in the hotel room, while Thapa was missing.

Preliminary police investigations indicate that Thapa locked the hotel room from outside before disappearing. Police suspected foul play and launched an investigation. The hotel administration reported that the couple had paid an advance of Rs3,000 for their stay. The discovery of Khadka’s body, with no visible injuries and foam around her mouth, prompted further suspicion. Two empty Red Bull cans were also found in the room, while Khadka’s mobile phone remains unaccounted for.

According to Tek Raj Adhikari, a ward member of Kathmandu Metropolitan City-9, Khadka’s clothing appeared intact, and she was found lying on the bed, as though she had been sleeping. The pair had been in a relationship for three years, having met during their studies in a Japanese language college. Despite plans to marry, family sources revealed that their relationship had deteriorated in recent months.

Thapa had recently returned to Kathmandu from Japan, where he had been residing. Khadka’s family had filed a formal complaint against Thapa following her death. Meanwhile, police continue to investigate both deaths, coordinating with the families of the deceased.

Superintendent of Police Navaraj Adhikari stated that the circumstances surrounding Thapa’s death remain unclear, as no official details have been released. “We are examining all aspects of the case to determine whether this was a suicide or something else,” he said.