Man Murdered at Pashupatinath Temple Premises; Two Arrested

A young man has been murdered on the premises of the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. Santosh Giri, 25, originally from Sankhuwasabha, was found dead on Falgun 6. His body was discovered at the Shiva temple near the Aarti site across the Aryaghat cremation ground, SP Pawan Bhattarai of the Kathmandu District Police Range told Ratopati.

Initial investigation suggests that he was murdered. The police investigation concludes that he was killed by being struck with tongs and bamboo splinters.

Preliminary police investigation indicates that the murder occurred following an argument with a group, including an Indian Sadhu named Niraj Nath, who had come to Pashupati for the Mahashivaratri festival. The group allegedly attacked and killed him using objects including tongs.

Police have arrested 48-year-old Niraj Nath, from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India, and 23-year-old Ashirwad Nath Yogi, also known as Saroj Tamang, from Baitehswar Rural Municipality, Dolakha, on suspicion of involvement in the murder. SP Bhattarai stated that questioning of the arrested individuals is underway. The accused are being held at the Police Circle, Gaushala.

The victim was murdered on the night of Falgun 5. The deceased, Giri, used to reside in the Pashupati Temple area of Kathmandu Metropolitan City-8. His body has been kept at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for post-mortem examination.