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Anshu Gautam, a 13-year-old living in Letang Municipality-2, Morang District, went missing in the beginning of October after leaving home on the occasion of Kojagrat Purnima, telling her family that she would be playing Ping Pong. When she did not return, family members searched for her last known location but ultimately filed a missing person report. For eighteen days, the community remained uncertain, continuing their search while hoping for her safe return.
However, the situation changed sharply on October 24, when locals discovered a severely decomposed body in the Chisang community forest, about four kilometres from her home. The condition of the body made identification difficult, but her family recognised her clothing and footwear. As the news spread, the community was shaken. Children in Letang reportedly grew fearful of going outside, and families demanded action from the authorities.
At the time, the postmortem examination did not reveal the exact cause of death, though it indicated she had died roughly two weeks before being found. Her family refused to collect the body from the hospital, insisting that the investigation must first identify those responsible.
Meanwhile, police agencies from the Morang District Police Office, Province Police and the Crime Investigation Bureau began working together, examining evidence. According to officials, several suspects were being monitored as investigators awaited DNA and forensic test results.
Then, after nearly two months of uncertainty, a major development occurred. Police arrested Padam Adhikari, known locally as "Bichari", who had vanished since the incident. He had fled Nepal shortly after Anshu went missing and travelled to Tinsukia in Assam, India. His return home last week, after contacting his family by phone, allowed police to apprehend him.
Investigators state that Adhikari has confessed to not only killing Anshu but also raping her. They report that he admitted to the crime during questioning and described using a sickle and a khukuri. The District Police Office, Morang, has announced preparations to present him publicly at a scheduled briefing.
According to police, Anshu’s father, Naveen Gautam, had previously filed a detailed complaint against Adhikari, which became one of the central pieces of the investigation. Her relatives say they remain committed to seeking justice, as does the rest of the nation.