The body of a 32-year-old woman, who had been reported missing since the night of March 18, was found on Tuesday evening under a drainage culvert in Biratnagar-17.

The deceased has been identified as Komal Kumari Sah of Biratnagar-15. Her body was in a decomposed state, with her hands and feet bound with a shawl and sari.

Police arrested her husband, Roshan Sah, shortly after the body was recovered.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Lilaraj Lamichhane, spokesperson of the District Police Office, Morang, said that the suspect confessed to killing his wife during preliminary interrogation.

The case had drawn police attention earlier when Roshan arrived at the police office on March 20, two days after his wife went missing, to file a report. However, his conduct raised suspicion, as he attempted to mislead investigators, at times claiming he had forgotten to bring a photograph of his wife and at other times suggesting she might have eloped with another man.

The victim was identified based on her bangles and ring after the body was recovered. Police subsequently detained Roshan at his residence.

Preliminary investigation shows that the couple had been in conflict for some time. Police said Roshan had found his wife chatting with another man and liking videos on the social media platform TikTok, which had led to frequent disputes between them.

According to police, Roshan strangled his wife and, in an attempt to destroy evidence, placed the body in a jute sack before dumping it under the culvert.

Police said the condition of the body is consistent with the suspect’s statement.

“We are currently focused on collecting the post-mortem report and technical evidence, including call detail records,” Lamichhane said.