KATHMANDU, Aug. 10: For a week, the body of 22-year-old Rabindra Mehta has remained at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, caught in a standoff between his family and the government over the circumstances surrounding his death.
Mehta was injured in an incident on the night of July 26 in Kaptanganj of Dewanganj Rural Municipality-3, Sunsari. He was receiving treatment for his injuries but died on August 4.
Death toll in Dewanganj clash rises to three
His body has not yet undergone a post-mortem examination, as his family has refused to give permission until the government addresses its demands.
The family wants Mehta to be officially declared a martyr and those responsible for his death to be arrested. It has also demanded a ballistic examination of the bullet before the post-mortem is conducted.
Government officials have held discussions with the family at the Teaching Hospital and pledged to address its concerns. But the assurance has failed to break the deadlock. The family maintains that the post-mortem will not be allowed until its demands are fulfilled.
The prolonged wait has left Mehta’s family in limbo, with his remains still at the hospital a week after his death.
Mehta was among four people killed in the Sunsari incident. The other deceased were Om Prakash Mehta and Jay Prakash Mehta of Kaptanganj, and Ganesh Yadav of Aurahi Rural Municipality, Siraha.
