A human body cut into pieces was found inside a suitcase at Baniyatar area of Gongabu in the Capital on Sunday morning.

Police found the body after locals informed them of an unclaimed suitcase in the area.

The head and some other body parts were found about 300 metres from the suitcase, according to Ishwar Karki, superintendent of police at the Metropolitan Crime Division. “Trained dogs were mobilised which recovered the head and some other body parts a bit further from the incident site.”

The body is of a man aged possibly between 35 and 40 years but his identity is yet to be ascertained, Karki said.

A team of officials from the Metropolitan Police Range and the Metropolitan Crime Division has been mobilised for further investigation. Chiefs of the two police units reached the spot to investigate the case, said Karki.

As the identity of the victim remains unknown, police have started looking at complaint reports for clues, said an investigative officer on condition of anonymity.

Preliminary investigation shows that the murder took place at another location while the body was thrown in the area, said the officer.

It has been sent to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for an autopsy, according to police.

Every year, thousands of cases of murder are reported to police stations across the country. There has been a steady rise in murder cases in the last five years.

As per the data provided by Nepal Police, 5,172 murder cases were filed in the fiscal year 2014-15. The number rose to 5,367 in 2015-16, and reached 5,904 in 2016-17. In 2017-18, the number of crimes reached 6,405. Murder incidents in the country saw a slight decline in 2018-19, only to rise again to 6,233 in 2018-19.

“Most of the murders reported to Nepal Police were committed by close family members, neighbours, and persons known to victims,” said SSP Sushil Kumar Yadav, spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari. Illicit affairs, suspicions of infidelity and anger due to financial issues were among the major causes.

The number of murders committed under the influence of drugs and alcohol or due to mental disorders is also significantly high, Yadav said.