Bipin Joshi’s mother and sister return home empty-handed, awaiting his body

Kanchanpur: The mother and sister of Nepali student Bipin Joshi, who was taken hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, have returned home from the United States empty-handed. They had traveled to the US with hopes of securing his release, but after confirmation of his death, they returned on Thursday.

Bipin’s death while in Hamas captivity was confirmed on Monday. His mother, Padma, and sister, Pushpa, had reached the US through Israel’s initiative to advocate for his release. During their visit, they met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and other high-ranking officials. While they were in the US, the war between Israel and Hamas ended and the prisoner release process began.

“We have been informed that the process of sending Bipin’s body will move forward after my aunt and sister’s return,” said Bipin’s brother, Kishore. “However, we have not received any specific information about when the body will arrive.”

Before traveling to the US, Bipin’s mother and sister had also visited Israel in the last week of Shrawan, where they participated in a rally calling for his release and met with the country’s president and prime minister.

Bipin, a student at the Faculty of Agriculture of Sudurpaschim University, had gone to Israel under the Learn and Earn program. Less than a month after his arrival, Hamas attacked Kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. During the attack, 10 Nepali students were killed, and Bipin was among those taken hostage.

A total of 251 people, including Bipin, were abducted during the incident. Seven of the deceased were from Nepal’s Far West region: Narayan Prasad Neupane from Ghodaghodi, Kailali; Ashish Chaudhary from Baunia, Kailali; Dipesh Raj Bista from Lekam, Darchula; Lokendra Singh Dhami from Malikarjun, Darchula; Ganesh Kumar Nepali from Jayaprithi, Bajhang; Anand Sah from Sapahi, Dhanusha; and others from Sunsari, Doti, and Salyan districts.

Most of the 17 Nepali students in the Sedot Negev area were from Tikapur Multiple Campus under Sudurpaschim University. Of the 265 Nepali students who reached Israel through the Learn and Earn program, 49 were from Sudurpaschim University.

The confirmation of Bipin’s death comes two years after his abduction. Hamas has handed over his body to Israel, and DNA testing has verified his identity.