Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of 30-year-old Rubi Kumari Sah of ward 2 in Madhav Narayan Municipality.

Local resident Laxman Paswan, who had fled after the incident, was found early Wednesday morning attempting suicide.

Police said that Paswan set himself on fire. An official from the District Police Office, Gaur, said that since his body was burnt, he was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment.

“Paswan attempted self-immolation near his own house,” the police official said. “We are currently engaged in treatment. At this moment, we cannot confirm what exactly happened. Paswan is not in a condition to speak.”

After allegedly murdering Rubi, the fugitive Paswan had posted messages on Instagram on Tuesday night. Following that, the police reached the location where Paswan was staying. However, police said he tried to commit suicide.

On Saturday evening, Rubi had left her room in Gaur for a salon. Paswan allegedly murdered Rubi soon after she left the salon.

Around 10pm that night, locals spotted an unattended suitcase on Gaur-Sirsiya Road near Mudwal Gate in ward 9 of Gaur Municipality and alerted the police.

Officers reached the scene immediately but did not open the suitcase, which, when checked the following morning, was found to contain Rubi’s body.

After discovering Rubi’s slippers in Paswan’s rented room in Gaur, the police concluded he was involved in her murder. Following the alleged killing, Paswan turned off his mobile phone and hid near his house.

Locals spotted Paswan in a severely burnt condition and alerted the police. He was immediately taken to Better Nepal Multispeciality Hospital in Garuda for initial treatment. Police Inspector Rudra Kandel stated that, with his entire body badly burned, Paswan is being prepared for further treatment at Kirtipur Hospital.