They Dragged Body Of Nepal Victim From River By Hair, Stole Earrings - NDTV

**Kathmandu, Nepal –** In the wake of the catastrophic monsoon floods that have swept through Nepal’s eastern districts this month, a disturbing incident captured on video has drawn widespread condemnation. The footage, first uploaded by a Kuala Lumpur‑based photojournalist, shows two men dragging the lifeless body of a female flood victim from the swollen Bagmati River by her hair, before stripping gold earrings that had been clutched in her hands. The woman, whose identity has not been released, was among more than 300 people reported missing after the deluge that has already claimed over 150 lives and displaced tens of thousands of residents.

The graphic clip, which quickly went viral on social media platforms, prompted an immediate response from Nepalese authorities. Police in the district of Sindhuli located the two suspects, identified in local reports as Ramesh Khadka and Sanjay Bhandari, and placed them in custody on charges of desecration of a corpse, theft, and causing public outrage. According to statements from the Sindhuli Police Office, the men were apprehended after a citizen recognized them from the video and alerted officials. Both suspects have been remanded pending further investigation, and the recovered earrings—each weighing approximately 4 grams of 22‑carat gold—have been submitted as evidence.

The incident has amplified calls for stricter enforcement of law and order amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs has pledged to intensify patrols along flood‑affected waterways and to provide additional training for responders on handling deceased victims with dignity. Human rights groups, meanwhile, have urged an independent inquiry to ensure that those responsible for the robbery are prosecuted fully, warning that such acts erode public trust at a time when the nation is grappling with the loss of over 55 Malaysians and countless other foreign nationals reported missing in the disaster. The case remains under active investigation, with authorities stating that any further violations will be met with the maximum penalties under Nepalese law.