A teenage girl was shot dead allegedly by her brother-in-law in ward 6 of Harinagar Rural Municipality in Sunsari district in the early hours of Monday, police said.

According to the District Police Office, Sunsari, 18-year-old Arshi Khatun was shot in the head around 1am, allegedly by her brother-in-law, 29-year-old Ajaat Miya Jat of Bihar, India. She died on the spot.

Following the shooting, Miya fled the scene and remains at large. Police said a manhunt is underway in coordination with Indian authorities.

The incident occurred near the Nepal-India border, an area long considered sensitive due to its vulnerability to cross-border crimes. Police said the case has once again exposed lapses in border security.

While the motive behind the killing is still unclear, police suspect it may be linked to family disputes. “The exact reason is yet to be confirmed,” said Superintendent of Police Suman Timilsina. “We have intensified the investigation and are coordinating with Indian security agencies to track down the suspect.”

According to police, Miya has multiple criminal cases filed against him in India, including murder, abduction, theft, and robbery. He is believed to have been moving between India and Nepal to evade arrest.