Seven years after an elderly couple were burnt to death at their home in ward 5 of Khadak Municipality in Saptari, police have yet to identify the murderers, even as a fresh suspicious death of another senior citizen has deepened fear and anger among locals.

In February 2019, 75-year-old Saburi Sah and his 65-year-old wife Bechni Devi were killed while sleeping at their house in Kharchuhiya. Villagers knew of the incident only the next morning and informed the police. Their bodies were completely charred, prompting joint investigations by police teams from Kalyanpur, Kadarbona, the district police office and the provincial police office.

Then Superintendent of Police Rajendra Bista confirmed arson and murder of the couple and deployed sniffer dogs, but neither the motive nor any suspects have been identified.

Local people say they feel insecure as the heinous crime remains unsolved for a long time. “We still do not know why they were targeted or who did it. When such brutal crimes go unsolved, people lose trust and feel unsafe,” said a local resident, requesting anonymity.

On October 19, 2025, another elderly man, 70-year-old Ramdular Das Sah, was shot dead by unidentified assailants at Rajpatti in ward 8 of Bode Barsain Municipality. A follower of the Kabir Panth spiritual tradition, he had lived alone for over a decade in a small tin-roofed hut built on his own land and was constructing a religious centre nearby.

He was shot from behind about 10 to 15 metres from his house, with the bullet hitting near his navel. Police recovered two cartridges from the scene, but investigations using trained dogs have yielded no arrests so far.

In the latest case, 85-year-old Asarphi Sah of Kalyanpur in ward 7 of Khadak Municipality was found dead in his bed a week ago under suspicious circumstances. Police have again deployed sniffer dogs to investigate the case.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Dambar Bahadur Puri said the cause of death would be clearer only after post-mortem reports. “We have questioned the victim’s sons and other family members, and further investigation is ongoing,” he said.

Asarphi Sah, described by locals as affluent, had three sons and lived with his youngest, Jogendra. Locals say repeated unresolved killings of elderly people highlight investigative lapses and understaffing in Madhesh police units.