Chitwan. Tragedy struck the serene halls of Ekata Child Home’s hostel in the heart of Ratnanagar Municipality, Chitwan, as 14-year-old Shalin Pokharel’s life came to a haunting halt. A promising student in Class 8, she was discovered lifeless, her young body hanging from a plastic rope, sending shockwaves through the community on February 24.
In the wake of this heart-wrenching incident, the authorities swiftly took action, apprehending key figures for questioning. Among them were the school’s principal, the vice-principal, and the hostel’s warden. Balhari Devkota, a 60-year-old figure in the community, along with Kiran Bahadur Adhikari, aged 40, and Kamal Sharma Paudel, 48, were brought under the scrutiny of the law.
Under the watchful eyes of DSP Shreeram Bhandari, the district police office in Chitwan launched a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Shalin’s untimely demise. The discovery of a cryptic suicide note, bearing the words, ‘Sorry everyone, sorry mom and dad,’ added a layer of complexity to the investigation, prompting forensic scrutiny.
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Shalin’s journey to this tragic end began two years ago when she left behind the rustic charms of Gorkha’s Ajirkot Rural Municipality-5, Muchok, for the bustling streets of Madhavpur in Ward No. 15 of Ratnanagar Municipality, Chitwan. Her relocation marked the beginning of a new chapter, one marred by loneliness and separation from her parents, who resided in different cities.
As the investigation unfolds, all eyes turn to the postmortem report eagerly awaited at Triyog Teaching Hospital. DSP Bhandari reassures the public of a relentless pursuit of truth, promising further action upon the report’s receipt.
In the midst of grief and uncertainty, the community grapples with unanswered questions, seeking solace and closure in the pursuit of justice for Shalin Pokharel.
