JHAPA: A 29-year-old female teacher was found dead on Monday in a residential building of Arunodaya English Boarding School in Kakarbhitta, Mechinagar Municipality–6, Jhapa.

The deceased has been identified as Kabita Kumari Dhungana, a resident of Lalbandi–2, Sarlahi. She was staying in a residential room on the school premises with her husband, 30-year-old Ratan Gupta of Birgunj–16, Parsa. Both Dhungana and Gupta had been working as teachers at the school since April.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ranjan Awale, Information Officer for the District Police Office Jhapa, confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway.
According to the school’s principal, Durga Bahadur Luitel, the school had been closed for holidays since July 21. When classes resumed on Monday, both teachers failed to report to work. Their room was locked from the outside, and repeated phone calls went unanswered.
“After failing to reach them all day, Ratan Gupta sent me a WhatsApp message at around 4:30 PM,” Principal Luitel said. “In the message, he claimed he found his wife hanging inside the room, moved her body to another room, and fled out of fear. He asked us to unlock the room and proceed with the necessary legal formalities.”

Local residents reported seeing Gupta leaving the school grounds carrying two bags at around 5:00 PM on Sunday. He has remained out of reach since then.

Police officers arrived at the scene shortly after receiving information about the body. Authorities stated that the exact cause of death is yet to be determined, pending an autopsy.

A search operation is currently underway to locate the missing husband.