By Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Rautahat, Feb. 9: Police have arrested two out of the three individuals involved in the murder of a 20-year-old Mohammad Ehteshamul Haq (Kesham). A resident of Ward 8 of Ishanath Municipality, Mohammad was found dead on January 30.

Identified as Asgar Ali, 26, and Haider Ali, 23, the duo was made public amidst a press conference organised by Rautahat District Police on Sunday. Asgar and Haider are brothers and Mohammad was in love with their sister.

Following the murder, 50-year-old Seikh Mohammad Raisul Azam, father of the deceased, had filed a complaint at Rautahat District Police demanding proper investigation and arrest of the culprits. The district police office then formed a five-member probe committee led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Nabin Karki.

Mohammad, who had left from his brother-in-law’s house on January 29, was found dead in the Bhakuwa River, nearly 700 meters east of Kuriya village of Rajpur Municipality.

“After returning from his brother-in-law’s house, Mohammad went to meet his beloved. He called her to the river bank but she asked him to come close to her house as it was already dark,” said Karki.

Mohammad was found with the girl by her brothers at around 11pm when they came searching for their sister as she was missing from the house until midnight.

“When the girl’s brothers found her with Mohammad, she fled towards her house while her brothers captured Mohammad. He was then taken to the bank of Bhakuwa River and murdered,” said Karki.

According to Rautahat District Police, Asgar and Haider have admitted killing Mohammad and the court has extended their judicial custody.

“Two of the three have been arrested while 31-year-old Asraf Ali is still absconding. We have intensified the search for Asraf,” said Superintendent of Police, Rabiraj Khadka, chief of Rautahat police.