Mother and Daughter Found Dead After Jumping into River in Surkhet; Husband Arrested for Aiding Suicide

Surkhet. As attention was focused on the rape and murder of 16-year-old Inisha BK from Gurbhakot Municipality-6, Badakhola, another tragic incident occurred in Gurbhakot. Maya Kathayat, 38, from Piple village in Ward No. 12 of Gurbhakot Municipality, drowned on Sunday after jumping into the Bheri River along with her two children.

Preliminary investigation suggests that Maya chose the path of death due to unbearable domestic strife. It was revealed that Maya's husband used to consume alcohol at home, torture his wife and children, and threaten to kill his wife.

Police sources indicate that the preliminary investigation revealed she was compelled to choose suicide after being driven to despair by her husband's daily quarrels.

Maya went missing with her 11-year-old daughter Asha and 5-year-old son Deepak Kathayat last Sunday morning. Maya's husband, Bhupendra Kathayat, called the Gumi police post himself in the evening to report that Maya and the children were missing. Following this, a police team of four under the command of Police Senior Head Constable Gopal Gurung, along with locals, began a search operation.

A bag, shawl, slippers, and mobile phone used by Maya were found on the bank of the Bheri River, about 3 kilometers from the house. The police then suspected that Maya might have jumped into the Bheri with her children.

35 police personnel and local residents were actively involved in the search operation around the Bheri River area. Maya's body was found in the Bheri River at Pataro in Lekbeshi Municipality-3 on Monday evening.

The body of her daughter Asha was found in the Bheri River at Bhamka in Gurbhakot Municipality-13 on Tuesday morning. However, the condition of the son Deepak is still unknown. Police and locals are continuing the search operation.

According to Police Inspector Prakash KC of the Area Police Office, Chhina, the investigation so far points to domestic strife as the cause of the incident. Before the incident, Maya had visited her maternal home, about an hour's distance away, on Friday. She stayed at the house of her maternal uncle, Ammardeo Giri. Maya told Ammardeo that she was returning after receiving treatment in Nepalgunj. In the evening, Maya's husband Bhupendra called Ammardeo and requested him to send Maya and the children home.

Ammardeo fed them and sent them halfway, but Bhupendra reached Ammardeo's house around 9 PM, even though Ammardeo had already sent Maya and her children halfway a few hours earlier.

Later, during the search, Maya was found hiding in the jungle with her children. Maya confided in her maternal uncle about the discord in her marital relationship. She told him that her husband used to beat and torture her.

According to Ammardeo, Bhupendra physically assaulted Maya in front of him at that time. Maya stayed at Ammardeo's house that day. On Saturday, daughter Asha went home and cooked food for her father. In the evening, Bhupendra came with his daughter and tried to appease Maya. During discussions among Maya's relatives, he expressed a commitment not to repeat past mistakes. Following this, they returned to their home early on Sunday morning.

However, Maya and the children went missing early Sunday morning. The Deputy Mayor of Gurbhakot Municipality, Maina BK, also stated that the tragic incident occurred due to domestic strife. 'Looking at it so far, the incident seems to be caused by domestic conflict,' she said.

Maya had also expressed her pain to other relatives, saying, 'I am going to suffer, if I die, the children will suffer.' 'It was extreme torture; she was forced to choose the path of mass suicide because she feared her children would suffer if she died,' said a relative.

Daughter Asha was studying in Grade 5, while son Deepak had just started going to school. According to the relative, Bhupendra had started severely torturing Maya for the last 5 months.

Bhupendra used to go to India for work previously. Recently, he used to drive an auto-rickshaw. The relative mentioned that he had also been involved with other women during that time. 'Because of that, there used to be daily chaos at home,' the relative said.

• Maya's Father Files Case Against Son-in-Law for Aiding Suicide

Bhupendra's father-in-law filed a case of abetment to suicide against him on Thursday. According to Police Inspector Prakash KC of the Area Police Office, Chhina, Maya's father filed the case alleging that his daughter jumped into the Bheri with her children due to extreme torture by her husband.

Maya's father, Baludev Giri, stated in the complaint that his son-in-law used to torture his daughter and grandchildren daily after consuming alcohol. 'We have arrested Bhupendra,' said Police Inspector KC, 'The court will now decide the rest.'

The post-mortem examination of Maya and daughter Asha's bodies is being conducted at Mehalkuna Hospital.