Teenage siblings found dead in Bhaktapur

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 25: In a tragic incident, two teenage sisters were found dead, hanging from a single rope at their rented residence in Madhyapur Thimi Municipality-8, Bode Sintitar, Bhaktapur, on Thursday morning.

The deceased have been identified as 17-year-old Menuka Kandel and her 15-year-old sister Srijana Kandel, originally from Panchapuri-8, Surkhet. 

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Dhundiraj Neupane of the Bhaktapur District Police Office, the girls were discovered hanging side by side from a nylon rope tied to an iron rod in the passageway of Chakradhar Prajapati’s house.

The girls had reportedly arrived in Bhaktapur around two weeks ago and were staying on their own, while their family currently resides in Mumbai, India. The family had recently filed a missing persons report and made public appeals through the media for assistance in locating them.

In a disturbing revelation, the sisters had filmed a TikTok video around 2: 00 am on Wednesday. The video, set to a song with lyrics ‘Marera Gayeni Na Todine Bandhan Maya Ho,’ sang by singer Hercules Basnet also showed a nylon rope, suggesting premeditation.  

According to the police investigation, the girls rented the room in Prajapati’s house 15 days ago, citing that they were college girls and had come to Kathmandu for higher studies. 

Authorities confirmed that their phones contained additional video footage in which they spoke of their intent to end their lives. The police are awaiting the arrival of the guardian (father) Basudev Kandel from Mumbai after receiving the devastating information, said police. 

The family reportedly believed the girls had gone out to attend computer classes. Only after the arrival of guardian will the authorities proceed with the removal of the bodies for post-mortem examination, said police. 

Police have not yet confirmed whether the incident was a case of suicide or other circumstances were involved. The cause of death will be officially determined following the autopsy.