May 16, Kathmandu – The day after Shivaratri on 6 Falgun 2082 (mid-February 2026), a suspicious death of a young man occurred in Pashupatinath. The body of the deceased was found within the precincts of the Pashupatinath temple. Following the discovery, police registered the incident on-site and began an investigation. Since the body showed signs of bruises and injuries, the death was considered suspicious, prompting the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office to get involved.
During the investigation, the victim was identified as Santosh Giri, also known as Santosh Pariyar, approximately 25 years old from Sankhuwasabha. It was found that Santosh was living in the Pashupati area and survived by begging. The condition of the body and the post-mortem report led the police to conclude that Santosh had been murdered.
After nearly four months of investigation, police arrested a suspect in connection with Santosh’s murder. The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office apprehended Dravyanath Baba, also known as Suvin Rana Magar, from Gaushala-6 in Mahottari district. He was captured at his residence in Tripurasundari Rural Municipality-5 in Dhading. During the investigation, it was revealed that the case involved mobile phone theft. Police also discovered links to a dispute concerning whom the victim had been with on the night of the incident, uncovering involvement of a baba figure.
While one baba has been arrested, the presence of an Indian baba involved in the case remains unaddressed. Although one Nepali baba was arrested after four months, authorities have confirmed the involvement of another Indian baba who remains at large. According to police sources, the Indian baba fled to India following the incident. He has been identified as Anupnath. “It appears that both the Indian and Nepali babas beat the victim to death. However, the Indian baba has not yet been apprehended. His identity, however, has been confirmed,” said an investigation officer.
Police stated that the murder was motivated by mobile theft and superstitious beliefs. The investigation suggests that the killing stemmed from the theft of a mobile phone and the superstitious notion that offering a sacrifice (‘bhog’) at Pashupati could confer spiritual power. The mobile phone was stolen from an Indian baba who had come to Pashupati for Shivaratri. “It is understood that the baba himself handed over Santosh Giri to the police. The next day, Santosh was found dead,” a source explained. “After failing to recover the phone, the baba is believed to have detained the suspect and tortured him overnight, leading to his death.” Police have also confirmed that the murder was influenced by superstitions related to acquiring tantric powers. This has been corroborated by the baba currently in custody, who has admitted these details to the police.
