A dead body has been recovered from Chipleti of Aruchaur VDC-4 in Syangja district. It is learnt the body, yet unidentified, was dug and shifted from the original grave site to a nearby jungle after villagers started talking about the incident.

District Police Office said that the perpetrators had replaced the corpse with that of a calf in the burial site and shifted the body to Bhatte Pathan community forest in Arjunchaupari VDC-4.

From preliminary investigation police have surmised that the body is of a 50-year-old man from Mountain region. A rough sketch of the deceased has been circulated in Manang and Mustang for identification.

According to the police, the murder took place on January 11.

The unknown person, possibly an herb trader, was seen in the area on January 11. It is learnt the victim had stayed at one local Shovakhar BK’s house where he had a heated argument which led to a fight with the latter's nephew Sanjay.

DSP Bir Bahadur Pulami said the person was killed by a sharp domestic weapon. Later, with assistance from neighbours, his body was buried some 200 metres from the incident site. However, after the rumours started circulating, his body was shifted to a distant location.

Police have rounded up 12 locals in connection to the incident and investigation into the murder is underway.