KATHMANDU: On Wednesday night, a robbery occurred at the residence of Bishnu Maya Tamang in Phidim Municipality-2, Panchthar. Tamang raised an alarm seeking help when she discovered a robber stealing cash and gold from her cupboard. Hearing her cries, neighbors rushed to the scene and, upon arrival, locked the robber inside before alerting the police. Law enforcement officers promptly responded to the call, arriving at the scene within 20 minutes and apprehending the suspect.

28-year-old Suren Yonya, who resides in Phidim Municipality-1, Panchthar, has been identified as the perpetrator of the robbery. Upon investigation, it was determined that Rs 15,000 in cash and one tola of yellow metal had been taken from the cupboard. Although the cash was recovered from the robber, the gold was initially unaccounted for.

During interrogation, Tamang insisted that the gold had been stored in the cupboard. However, despite a thorough search of the suspect's person, including examinations of his nose, mouth, and other possible hiding spots, the gold was not found. Suspecting that the thief may have swallowed the gold, police took him to the hospital for an X-ray, which confirmed their suspicions.

The X-ray revealed that the gold was indeed lodged in the thief's stomach. He was kept under observation, and after two days without passing stool, the gold finally emerged in his feces after 36 hours. The recovered gold weighed one tola, and despite ingesting it, Yonya's health remained normal.

Subsequently, a case was registered in the district court, and Yonya was fined Rs 150,000 for bail, which he was unable to pay. Consequently, he was remanded to Panchthar jail on May 8. Statements provided to the police and in court indicated that Yonya resorted to robbery due to financial hardship stemming from poverty.