09/12/2025
A heartbreaking incident has shaken Morang, Nepal, after 13-year-old Anshu Gautam, who went missing on September 6 while playing near her home, was found lifeless 17 days later in a nearby forested area. After more than two months of joint investigation under “Operation Jag,” police arrested 59-year-old neighbour Padam Bahadur Adhikari, whom Anshu had trusted like a grandfather. According to investigators, he lured her away that evening and later attempted to hide his involvement by acting normally in the community search efforts. Police tracked him to Meghalaya, India, where he had fled, and brought him back with the help of relatives. During questioning, he confessed to the crime. Anshu’s family, devastated by the tragedy, has refused to accept the body until justice is delivered. Police have filed charges under serious offence sections, which could lead to life imprisonment if he is convicted.
