Woman Found Dead in Car in Tarkeshwor Municipality

Kathmandu. Rashmi Rijal was found dead on July 25 at the Chunidevi Sand Processing Center in Tarkeshwor Municipality, Kathmandu. 

Rijal, 45, had gone missing after leaving home at 7 am on July 24. 

The next day, she was found dead inside the EV car with license plate BAE 0410, which she used to drive. She was in the back seat, and the car key was in the driver's seat. 

She was working as the Merchant Head at Sanima Capital Limited, whose office is in Naxal. On the same day Rashmi went missing, 3 employees of Sanima Capital, including the CEO, visited her house in Manmaiju. 

Rashmi's family informed the police about the 3 employees coming to their house. The victim's family mentioned in their complaint to the Balaju Police Station that the employees had come to the house and 'interrogated' them, requesting an investigation into the incident. 

A police official said, 'The complaint mentions that three employees came to the house, and we are investigating that.'

Pawan Kumar Bhattarai, spokesperson (SP) for the District Police Complex Kathmandu, said that the victim's family took the body after filing a complaint requesting an investigation into the incident. He said, 'We are questioning and investigating the matters mentioned in the complaint.'

Rijal, who is from Tandi of Belkotgadhi Municipality in Nuwakot and lives in Manmaiju, had filed a complaint with the police after not returning home. Officials involved in the investigation said that the capital's employees had come to the house and inquired, 'Why didn't Rashmi come to the office?'

The police investigation concludes that she went directly to the scene from her home in Shuvakamana Chowk, Ward No. 9, Manmaiju, Tarkeshwor Municipality, and committed self-immolation by splashing petrol. She had reached the scene carrying petrol. 

SP Bhattarai said that preliminary investigations show Rashmi set herself on fire. He said, 'Analyzing the CCTV footage, no one else's presence is seen at the scene.'

Investigations revealed that she splashed petrol on her body outside the car with the air conditioning on, then entered the car and set herself on fire. Police recovered 3 lighters from the burnt car. An official from Balaju Police Station involved in the investigation said, 'The car door was locked, and CCTV also shows that she set herself on fire.'