Police in Jhapa say they are still searching for key answers in the investigation into the death of a 21-year-old woman whose body was found stuffed inside a sack and dumped in a river.

The victim, Rama Tiwari, known locally as Roma, was a resident of Damak Municipality-8. Her body was discovered on Saturday, May 30, beneath a bridge over the Ratuwa River in Setumari, sparking a major police investigation.

According to police, Tiwari left her home on Wednesday night and did not return. At around 11am on Saturday, local residents found her body wrapped in a white plastic sack under the bridge.

Inspector Suman Baniya, acting information officer at the Jhapa District Police Office, said investigators believe the killing did not take place where the body was found.

“The location where the body was recovered is not the primary crime scene. It appears the victim was killed elsewhere and her body was later thrown into the river from the bridge,” he said.

Family members told police that Tiwari had left home after 8pm on Wednesday to meet a friend. Investigators questioned the man she had reportedly gone to meet, who had been released from a rehabilitation centre earlier that day. However, police say they have found no evidence linking him directly to the crime.

Authorities have yet to determine where and how the killing occurred.

Investigators describe the recovery site as a “secondary location” and say identifying the primary crime scene could provide crucial evidence.

“The place where the body was found is only a secondary location. Many questions may be answered once the primary location is identified,” a police source said.

Police analysis of Tiwari’s mobile phone records shows that her handset’s last known location was in Damak Bazaar. The phone was switched off at around 11pm on the night she disappeared.

Investigators are now attempting to reconstruct the victim’s final movements using mobile data, witness accounts and other forensic evidence. While several individuals have been questioned, police say they have not yet reached a stage where arrests can be made.

Officials also believe the nature of the crime suggests that more than one person may have been involved.

Meanwhile, police have expressed concern that online videos, interviews and social media content discussing the case have complicated the investigation. They accused some content creators of circulating unverified claims and speculation while the inquiry remains active.

Authorities have urged the public and media outlets to avoid sharing unconfirmed information, warning that the release of sensitive investigative details could hinder efforts to establish the facts and secure justice in the case.