Sixteen missing persons case mysterious: Police deployed from Sindhuli to Ramechhap

Kathmandu — Police have been dispatched toward Ramechhap to search for 16 missing individuals, including Urmila Hayu, from Bhandas Bippar, Ward 6 of Golanjor Rural Municipality, Sindhuli. District Chief Dinesh Sagar Bhusal said the mobile phone location pointed toward Ramechhap, and operations were launched under an Inspector’s leadership.

According to him, the last mobile phone signal of one of the missing persons came from Simandichhap in Ramechhap, although the device is currently switched off. 

It is understood that relatives reside in Ramechhap, and thus police were deployed there for search efforts. Authorities also dispatched teams toward other Hayu community areas on the possibility the group may have moved. 

For three days, Urmila has been missing along with her six daughters, six sons, one daughter‑in‑law, one granddaughter, and one son‑in‑law. After word of the 16 missing surfaced around 12:30 PM Monday, search teams were mobilized in Bhandas Bippar of Sindhuli’s police chief SP Lal Dhwaj Subedi, the Armed Police Force and local residents continue their search in the Bhandas Bippar area

Mysterious Case

It remains difficult to confirm whether the missing individuals have gone anywhere, as all household doors were found unlocked. When police arrived, all doors were open. Goats and chickens remained free and unattended. Urmila’s house is isolated, with no nearby neighbors. A buffalo on the property was heard mooing continuously until locals took notice and found the house deserted. 

Local sources also reported that despite 16 people being missing, additional visitors were believed to have been in the house. Urmila’s husband is not present. The Hayu are an endangered indigenous community. On Friday, they had collected social security allowances from the local ward office. After that, neighbors lost contact with them. Some speculate that Urmila had debts of six to seven lakh rupees with a cooperative and may have left the village due to inability to sustain living there.