Morang police are hunting for two men over the attempted murder of a pregnant woman who they had allegedly raped multiple times.

The victim, missing since March 9 from Prakashpur in Sundari district, was found unconscious by a group of women at a forest in Bhaunne, Morang. They informed the police who then took the woman to Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health and Sciences (BPKIHS) on March 12. The doctors at BPKIHS delivered a 9-month-old dead foetus.

The two men had allegedly tried to strangle the woman with a shawl after beating her mercilessly with iron rod. Apparently, the duo fled the scene before killing her after seeing a group of women who were at the forest to collect firewood.

Belbari Area Police Office Inspector Ramji Katuwal informed that the victim was dragged by the neck with a shawl and was beaten by a rod in the neck area and hand. “Due to the beating, the woman cannot straighten her head,” said Inspector Katuwal, “she can barely speak as of now.”

The doctors involved in her treatment informed that although they were successful in treating problems related to the miscarriage, the woman needs to stay at the hospital for a few days for treatment of her neck and hand.

Meanwhile, the victim in her statement has said she was raped by the duo some eight months back after which they came back to her and raped her several times after the first incident.

The woman is the mother of two daughters aged 14 and 4, and a 9-year-old son. Her spouse has been out of contact from the few years and she was working in a hotel as a dish washer.

Inspector Katuwal further said the police have registered a murder case against the suspects and have launched a search to apprehend them. However, the police have not disclosed the names of suspects.