Siraha:
The disappearance of the body of a 16-year-old girl from a hospital in Siraha district has sparked tension and protests in the area. The deceased, identified as Nisha Baniya of Golbazar Municipality–3, Jamdaha, was found dead at her home last Friday.
According to police, Nisha, daughter of Ramesh Baniya, was discovered hanging inside her house on Magh 9 (Friday). The Area Police Office, Golbazar, initially treated the incident as a case of suicide and sent her body to Ram Kumar Upendra Prasad Provincial Hospital in Lahan for post-mortem examination.
However, the case took a dramatic turn on Magh 11 (Sunday) when Nisha’s parents—who had been working in India—arrived at the hospital to receive her body, only to find that it was missing. Following the revelation, enraged family members and local residents staged a road blockade on the East–West Highway in the Golbazar area, demanding a thorough investigation and strict action against those responsible.
Locals have termed the incident highly mysterious and suspicious. According to community members, Nisha had reportedly stayed at the house of a young man in Lahan a day before her death, and the two were said to be in a romantic relationship. While it was claimed that she died by suicide shortly after returning home, locals allege that injury marks were visible on her body, raising doubts about the suicide narrative.
Local resident Anand Lama said the incident requires an impartial investigation. “A girl returning from Lahan and allegedly committing suicide, followed by her body going missing from the hospital, is a serious matter. There appears to be collusion somewhere. A fair investigation is essential,” he said.
Similarly, local teacher Samar Bhandari criticized both the hospital and police administration, stating that the disappearance of a body without even conducting a post-mortem reflects gross negligence. He demanded the harshest possible punishment for all individuals involved.
Ward Chairperson of Golbazar Municipality–3, Dhan Prasad Lama, warned that if the body was not produced safely by 10 a.m. today, locals would resume stronger protests. Following this warning, demonstrators temporarily lifted the road blockade.
Attempts to contact the chief of the Area Police Office, Lahan, were unsuccessful as his phone remained unanswered. Hospital Chief Dr. Ranjit Jha was also unreachable, with his mobile phone switched off. According to a journalist present at the hospital, after news of the missing body spread, Dr. Jha reportedly stayed hidden in his quarters. Although he later appeared following pressure from hospital staff, he only stated that the body had been “misplaced” and failed to provide any clear explanation.
Public anger continues to rise as locals demand an impartial investigation into the incident and strict legal action against those found responsible.
