Man Dies After Falling Ill in Police Custody Following Gambling Arrest

Sep 29, Kathmandu - A 55-year-old man arrested for allegedly gambling died Tuesday while receiving treatment after becoming unconscious in the custody of Morang District Police in eastern Nepal.

Balram Koirala, a resident of Biratnagar Metropolitan City-14, was among eight people arrested during a police patrol at a house in Sarauchiya, Biratnagar-6, at around 11:30 p.m. Monday. Police said some people fled when officers arrived. Koirala reportedly fell and was injured while trying to escape.

Police initially considered his injuries minor and detained him with the others. At about 7:30 a.m., officers found him unconscious after he failed to get up from where he had been sleeping.

Koirala was taken to Koshi Hospital in Biratnagar and then transferred to Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital for further treatment. He was pronounced dead at around 11 a.m., police officials said.

In the same incident, 41-year-old Chandan Mukhiya of Biratnagar-8 allegedly jumped from the second floor of a house while trying to avoid arrest, fracturing his right leg. He is receiving treatment at a hospital under police supervision.

Police said they seized playing cards and Rs 48,395 from the scene. Six other arrested individuals remain in police custody as legal proceedings continue.