Tension ran high in Punya Marga of Dharan-16 on Tuesday evening after locals vandalised the house of Baliman Rai accusing him and his wife of murdering a 13-year-old girl who the couple had a adopted as a daughter.

Locals also tried to manhandle Rai’s family members. At least 17 police personnel were injured in a clash that ensued.

Enraged locals, who alleged that the victim was sexually assaulted before she was killed, had also tried to set Rai’s house on fire, said police. 

DSP Dhakendra Khatiwada said security personnel had lobbed seven rounds of tear gas canisters to take the situation under control. 

“Baliman and his wife Padam Kumari have been arrested for investigation,” said DSP Khatiwada. 

Baliman and his family had adopted the girl as his daughter when she was four years old. 

There were only Baliman and his wife in the house when the incident occurred. 

The couple are learnt to have told the police that the girl had consumed insecticides that resulted in her death. Purnakala Limbu, joint coordinator of the Ward Citizen Forum, said the couple had initially tried to bury the incident. “Police should carry out a fair and thorough investigation,” said Limbu. 

The girl died on Monday while undergoing treatment at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, said police.