A 10-year-old boy who went missing after leaving home on his bicycle has been found murdered in a community forest in Kailali district, with police suspecting that the crime may have been committed to steal the gold earring he was wearing.

The victim, Tanuj Chaudhary, a resident of Uttar Khaireni Freed Kamaiya Settlement in Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City-17, disappeared on Wednesday afternoon after riding his bicycle out of his home.

According to the preliminary police investigation, Tanuj met a friend of the same age shortly after leaving home. The friend told investigators that he was heading to Moya in Gauriganga Municipality-6, where his father was working in rice fields, and Tanuj decided to accompany him. The two boys rode separate bicycles to the paddy field where the friend’s father was planting rice.

While the adults worked in the fields, the boys caught freshwater crabs from a nearby stream. The crabs were later roasted and eaten by the friend’s father, another worker, a local resident, and the resident’s son. Police said the adults also consumed homemade alcohol during the gathering.

After eating, the two boys reportedly visited a nearby house to drink water. According to the friend’s statement to investigators, they later separated, with Tanuj deciding to return home alone while his friend remained behind with his father.

Tanuj left the area at around 6 p.m. to return to his home in Dhangadhi, but he never arrived. His family began searching for him that evening before notifying police after he failed to return.

A joint search by police and local residents continued for two days before Tanuj’s body was discovered on Friday inside the Kalika Community Forest, located near the border between Dhangadhi and Gauriganga.

Police said the body was found about 40 meters inside the forest from an unpaved road. Investigators recovered the boy’s bicycle, a piece of black plastic sheeting, and remains of the roasted crabs near the scene. His slippers were also found nearby.

Although the body had already begun to decompose, investigators observed bloodstains around the area. Witnesses reported seeing blood-covered stones and traces of blood leading from the dirt road to the location where the body was found, suggesting the killing occurred at the scene.

Based on the condition of the crime scene and initial forensic findings, police believe the child was intentionally murdered.

Investigators suspect the motive may have been robbery. According to the victim’s relatives, Tanuj was wearing a gold earring weighing approximately one ana in one ear when he left home. The earring was missing when his body was recovered.

The victim’s maternal grandmother has urged authorities to arrest those responsible and ensure they face legal action, saying the child was likely killed for the valuable piece of jewelry.

Police also stated that the missing earring has strengthened suspicions that the attackers robbed the boy before or after the murder.

As part of the investigation, police have taken four people into custody, including the victim’s juvenile friend, the friend’s father Dilkhush Chaudhary, another man identified as Bishnu Chaudhary, and local resident Tek Kathayat.

Meanwhile, Khagendra Kathayat, approximately 25 years old and one of the individuals who had been with the group earlier that day, remains at large. Police have launched an intensive search for him.

Investigators believe Khagendra may have been involved in the killing and the theft of the gold earring, although officials stress that the investigation is still ongoing and no final conclusions have been reached.

Police have not disclosed further details about the suspects, stating that revealing additional information at this stage could compromise the investigation. Authorities say forensic analysis, witness interviews, and further evidence collection are continuing as they work to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the child’s death.