Kanchanpur — Nepali student Bipin Joshi, who was killed after being taken hostage by Hamas fighters in Israel, was cremated today on the banks of the Mahakali River in Kanchanpur.

Joshi’s funeral procession began at 8 a.m. from Bhimdatta Municipality and reached Bhujela Ghat, where family members, locals, and security personnel were present to pay their final respects.

His body was brought to Kathmandu from Israel on Monday afternoon and then flown by a Nepali Army Sky Truck to Dhangadhi before being transported to his home in Bhimdatta Municipality–3, Bhasi.

The body arrived late at night, and the cremation took place this morning.
Officials from the Israeli Embassy in Nepal also reached Joshi’s home to hand over the body to his family.

Bipin had gone to Israel two years ago under the “Learn and Earn” program of Far Western University. He was taken hostage during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

For nearly two years, his whereabouts remained unknown. His death was recently confirmed after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas revealed the fate of several hostages.

According to the National News Agency (RSS), a forensic report sent by Israel stated that Joshi had died from a gunshot wound to the head, and therefore, a postmortem in Nepal was deemed unnecessary, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The atmosphere at Joshi’s home was filled with grief, especially during the Tihar festival. “His sister Pushpa was hoping to meet her brother during Bhai Tika this year,” said family member Kishor Joshi. “But instead, his body arrived on Laxmi Puja day, and the house is in mourning.”

Bipin Joshi was one of ten students from Far Western University killed in the 2023 Hamas attack. His confirmed death has turned two years of waiting and hope into heartbreak for his family and community.