Police on Friday made public a suspect in the March 26 murder of Padma Sunar in Ribdikot of Palpa district.

Earlier, two people had been taken into police custody in connection with the killing of the 19-year-old girl in Khulkhule Gaira of Ribdikot Rural Municipality.

In a statement recorded by the police, Devlal Sarki, alias Sagar, a local of Khyaha in ward 1 of the rural municipality, ‘admitted to killing’ Sunar.

He was paraded before the media on Friday.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Sugandha Shrestha, the 19-year-old accused and Sunar had gotten into a minor argument in the banks of the Lapsi Khola, where the latter had gone to wash her clothes.

The accused then attacked the victim, while she was returning home, with the sickle which he was carrying some 200 metres from the river.

The victim’s body was recovered some 20 metres from the road and was sent to the Provincial Hospital for postmortem reports. Sunar had sustained injuries to her left arm and head.

Police seized the weapon used in the attack and the victim’s mobile phone from the accused.

Further investigation into the matter is underway, said Superintendent of Police Narendra Chand.