Youth Dies Under Suspicious Circumstances at Rupandehi Rehab Center

The family of a young man has filed a police complaint after his suspicious death at a rehabilitation center in Rupandehi.

Narayan Dhakal, 27, had been living in the UK for the past few years. On Kartik 25, his family admitted him to a drug treatment and rehabilitation center run by Karuna Chautari Foundation in Tilottama Municipality-11, Mrigauli, Rupandehi. On Sunday, the center informed the family that Dhakal had died.

The family has accused staff members and other inmates at the center of beating Dhakal to death. However, the center claimed that Dhakal was injured after trying to jump from the building while attempting to escape and later died during treatment.

Dhakal’s family has demanded a fair investigation and filed a complaint at the Area Police Office in Butwal. After the complaint, police detained six people, including center staff member Ashish Bik, and started an investigation.

Dhakal’s uncle, Ramgopal Bhandari, said Narayan was kept at the center for 13 days and was not allowed to meet any family members during that time. He said the family was only informed after his death.

Dhakal was taken to Nepal for treatment after developing a drug addiction while living in the UK as a dependent. His family had admitted him to the center on Kartik 25. The center had charged Rs 100,000 for three months of treatment, and the family had already paid Rs 30,000 for the first month.

The center also operates a hospital under the name Chautari Hospital Pvt. Ltd., providing treatment for addiction, neurological, and mental health issues.

Dhakal’s father, Dharma Dhakal, and other family members have demanded strict action against those responsible, saying their son was killed and that the rehabilitation center must take full responsibility.