Kathmandu [Nepal], October 15 (ANI): Nepal on Wednesday evening held a candlelight vigil for Bipin Joshi, a student who was killed while in Hamas custody after being abducted in October 2023. Dozens of
youths gathered at the Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu to pay tribute to Joshi, who had been in Israel under the “Learn and Earn” scheme and was abducted by the militant group on October 7, 2023. “It is for Bipin Joshi. He actually lost his life two years back, but we came to know it recently following the formal announcement. For two years, we lived with the hope that Bipin Joshi would return. Though he won’t be here physically, he will always be remembered,” said Rakshya Bam, a participant in the candlelight vigil, speaking to ANI. Israeli authorities confirmed Joshi’s death on October 14 following the handover of the remains of those who died in Hamas captivity. On Tuesday, Nepali Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai held a telephonic conversation with Eden Bar Tal, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel. Bar Tal formally informed the Nepali side about the sad demise of Bipin Joshi, expressing condolences on behalf of the Israeli government to his family, the Government of Nepal, and the Nepali people. Hamas handed over Joshi’s body to Israel on Monday through the Red Cross. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) separately stated that Bipin Joshi, abducted at the age of 23 from a shelter in Kibbutz Alumim, was murdered in captivity during the first months of the Gaza war that began in October 2023.
