The body of 21-year-old Rabindra Kumar Mehta, who died while undergoing treatment after being injured in the Kaptanganj violence in Sunsari, has remained at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu for four days as his family and the government have failed to reach an agreement over compensation, martyr status and implementation of previous commitments.

Rabindra, a resident of Kaptanganj in ward 3 of Dewanganj Rural Municipality, died on Tuesday while receiving treatment at the Kathmandu-based hospital. He was airlifted to Kathmandu last Friday from Birat Nursing Home in Biratnagar after his condition deteriorated despite initial treatment.

Rabindra had suffered a gunshot wound to his left thigh, causing severe damage to a nerve. Doctors at the Biratnagar hospital had performed surgery to repair the damaged nerve, but his condition continued to worsen, prompting his referral to the teaching hospital in Kathmandu.

As an infection spread, doctors were forced to amputate his left leg. His condition did not improve even after the surgery, and he died on Tuesday.

His body has not been handed over to the family as negotiations between the government and relatives have failed to produce an agreement. Home Minister Sudan Gurung held initial talks with Rabindra’s relatives after visiting the hospital on Tuesday, but the meeting ended without a breakthrough. Both sides had agreed to hold further discussions on Wednesday.

A fresh round of talks was held on Thursday between Home Minister Gurung, Dewanganj Rural Municipality chair Bechan Prasad Mehta and Ravindra’s family, but the meeting again ended without agreement.

According to chair Mehta, the talks failed after the home minister insisted that decisions on compensation, relief and other demands would be taken only after the government-appointed investigation committee submits its report.

Mehta said the family had demanded that the government implement the same commitments made with the families of Om Prakash Mehta and Jaya Prakash Mehta, who were killed in the Kaptanganj incident, including relief measures and recognition as martyrs. He said the home minister was not ready to accept the demand.

Gurung, however, maintained that decisions on martyr status, compensation and other demands would be made only after the investigation committee submits its findings.

The family has become increasingly concerned after Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting did not declare Rabindra a martyr, according to Mehta.

The latest talks between the home minister, the rural municipality chair, Rabindra’s family, and representatives of other victims ended without progress, as both sides remained firm in their positions. As a result, the body remains at the hospital.

Meanwhile, in Kaptanganj, relatives and residents have been waiting for four days for Rabindra’s body to arrive for his final rites. The delay has prolonged the family’s grief, while locals are urging the government and the victim’s family to reach an agreement soon so that the funeral can take place.