Nepal Communist Party leader Yogendra Gurung has been arrested on the charge of murdering 26-year-old Ramila Rai in Belbari, Morang.

Police have accused Gurung of murdering Rai and hiding her body. Rai has been missing since March 2.

A police official informed that Rai’s body was dumped into the Saptakoshi River. A police source said that Gurung confessed to murdering Rai in his room and dumping her body. Gurung told police that he killed Rai after the two got into a confrontation on March 1.

A police task force led by Inspector Raj Kumar Rai is searching for the body. SP Manoj KC from District Police Office Morang said that his team was collecting evidence after interrogating Gurung.”Yogendra Gurung was the last person to have met the victim which is why we arrested him. The victims family has also filed a complaint against Gurung,” said SP KC.

According to a police source, Gurung, a married man, was in a relationship with Rai.