Dispute at Pasni Feast Leads to Fatal Beating; Body Dumped Off Cliff in Kailali

Dhangadhi: A dispute during a ‘Pasni’ (rice-feeding ceremony) feast in Nigali, Chure Rural Municipality-1, Kailali, resulted in a fatality. Yagya Bahadur Bohara, 52, died after being beaten following an altercation at the feast about a week ago. Police stated that preliminary investigations indicate that his body was dumped off a cliff in an attempt to conceal the incident.

According to the Area Police Office, Malakheti, Yagya Bahadur had gone to attend the rice-feeding ceremony for the grandson of his relative, Dhan Bahadur Bohara, on Asoj 5 (September 22) and subsequently went missing. During the search, his body was discovered on a cliff in the Tulikhet forest.

As the investigation progressed, police arrested eight individuals who had consumed alcohol with Yagya Bahadur at the ceremony. Those arrested include the head of the household where the ceremony took place, Dhan Bahadur Bohara, along with Man Bahadur Bohara, Govinda Bohara, Yagya Bahadur Bohara, Dilip Dhami, Ram Bahadur Bohara, Gambhir Bohara, and Tilak Jethara.

DSP Hira Singh Mahara, Chief of the Area Police Office, Malakheti, stated that a homicide case has been registered against all eight arrested individuals based on the complaint filed by the deceased’s son, and the investigation is underway.

Dispute After Drinking; Yagya Bahadur Collapses Following Beating
According to police sources, a dispute arose between Yagya Bahadur and Man Bahadur while they were consuming alcohol at the feast. Preliminary investigations reveal that a dispute that had originated the previous day when Yagya Bahadur scolded his wife reignited during the feast, leading to a physical altercation. During the assault, Yagya Bahadur collapsed and lost consciousness.

A video related to the incident has also surfaced. In the footage, one individual is heard saying, “I will go to jail if he dies,” while another remarks, “You did the wrong thing.” Police stated that they have included the video, along with other evidence related to the incident, in their investigation.

Body Discarded to Simulate a Fall from a Cliff
According to police involved in the investigation, it appears that Yagya Bahadur died during the assault that same night. However, preliminary findings indicate that the body was taken to a cliff and thrown off due to fears that the incident would be exposed and the perpetrators would face legal consequences.

Police sources stated that some of the arrested individuals confessed that Yagya Bahadur died at the scene and admitted to dumping the body off the cliff out of fear of being implicated.

Although the incident began with a dispute and assault between two individuals, police are conducting further investigations to determine whether others were involved in disposing of the body, how the plan to cover up the incident was devised, and the actual cause of the event.

DSP Mahara stated that he could not provide detailed comments at this time as the investigation is ongoing. According to him, the incident is being investigated from various angles.