Police arrested three more people on Wednesday in connection to the incident.

On Thursday, Rukum (West) District court extended the remand of 18 individuals for 10 more days.

Police have arrested 18 people, including Dambar Bahadur Malla, the ward chairman of Chaurjahari Ward No. 8, over their involvement in the alleged murder.

Karnali state legislators call for an impartial investigation into the Dalit killings and punishment for the perpetrators.

Survivors of the incident and victims’ families say locals and people’s representatives in Rukum (West) are trying to save the perpetrators of the crime by misguiding the investigation.

Search is on for another missing person, police say.

Family members and relatives of the deceased had found the body.

The third victim was among the 18 who had accompanied Nabaraj BK to Soti in Rukum (West). The deceased Nabaraj was killed in his pursuit of a girl whose family deemed him ‘untouchable’

A Dalit man went to marry a girl from ‘upper-caste’ but her family and villagers chased them into the river.

People in various quarantine facilities across the municipality say Rs 178 given by the municipality every day is not enough to cover the cost of their four meals.

Each worker will receive 50kg rice for five days of labour, municipal officials say.

In Bhume Rural Municipality, there are 54 individuals staying in various quarantine facilities whereas 310 individuals have been advised to stay in self-quarantine by the authorities.

Designated health institutions face difficulties in setting up isolation wards due to lack of budget.

Health workers deployed at the quarantine and isolation facilities have been using locally prepared protective equipment for personal safety.

The people’s representatives, concerned authorities and even the locals are indifferent towards the conservation of the pond.