Hindu Woman Burnt in Nepal: Murder or Suicide?
Nepalgunj burn case: 22-year-old Sirjana Budha Magar dies under suspicious circumstances after accusing partner of assault; murder probe underway.
A 22-year-old woman, Sirjana Budha Magar, died under suspicious circumstances after being found severely burnt on a road in Nepalgunj, Banke district, on the night of March 28. She succumbed to her injuries the following morning at Bheri Hospital.
Sirjana had been living with her 24-year-old partner, Arif Dhapali, in a rented room along with her 4-year-old daughter. Just two days before the incident, she had filed a police complaint accusing him of assault. He was briefly arrested but released the next day after a reported reconciliation.
Hours after his release, Sirjana was discovered badly burnt near Bheri Technical School—far from their residence—raising serious concerns. Initially unidentified, she was later confirmed to be a local resident.
Her family alleges murder and has accused multiple members of Arif’s family, demanding strict action. Police have detained Arif, his mother, and his sister, while searching for two others named in the complaint.
Authorities say the cause of death—whether homicide or suicide—remains unconfirmed, with investigations ongoing. A post-mortem report is awaited, and police have cautioned against spreading unverified information due to the area’s sensitivity.
Sirjana’s young daughter is now in the care of relatives as the case continues to unfold.
