On Saturday, Som Bahadur Tamang, from Khaniyabas, found in his chicken coop an inordinately small egg, about half the size of a normal one. The egg was not oval but spherical.

Som Bahadur showed the egg to his neighbours who were equally surprised at the unusual shape and size of the egg. Word quickly spread around the village. And after much discussion, the villagers concluded the egg was not laid by hen but a rooster—and that the egg could be sold at over Rs10 million.

Som Bahadur took a photo of the egg and hid it in the main granary of the house. He informed his relative in the district headquarters about the egg and asked if he could search for clients who would be interested in buying the egg.

But on the third day of the peculiar egg’s discovery, when Som Bahadur checked the granary for the egg, he saw nothing. The egg had been stolen.

Som Bahadur then went up to the local lama jhankri (faith healer) Gaja Bahadur Lama, who holds a commanding authority in the locality. Lama passed his verdict that the egg was stolen by Ram Kumar Tamang, Som Bahadur’s neighbour, and he sent the egg to Chitwan.

A day after this declaration, Som Bahadur got into a verbal spat with Manga Bahadur Tamang, Ram Kumar’s relative. Upon knowing about the incident, Ram Kumar filed a police case alleging Som Bahadur of defamation.

The police then arrested both Gaja Bahadur and Som Bahadur and took them in custody. “I don’t know why I am being kept in custody,” Som Bahadur told the Post.

Dhading’s SP Rajkumar Baidawar said that the police are currently investigating the case. “The people who allegedly spread rumours across the village and disturbed its peace and order have been arrested,” SP Baidawar told the Post.

According to Baidawar, both Lama and Som Bahadur are undergoing legal procedures under improper behaviour and will be punished if proven guilty.