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The murders that occurred on the night of Sept 15 at Shree Dibya Sawmill in Tinkune, Kathmandu, was an act of revenge that stemmed from a disagreement following a motorcycle collision. 

The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office of Nepal Police stated that their initial findings showed that 23-year-old Sanjay Bhandari from Barabise Municipality-9 in Sindhupalchok was responsible for the murder of four individuals.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Somendra Singh Rathor, Bhandari was involved in a motorcycle accident with one of his victims, Bishal Rai, 19, also known as Nabin, at Chabahil. When Bhandari attempted to communicate with Rai regarding compensation, Rai allegedly assaulted  Bhandari.

Rathor told ApEx that the investigators were yet to confirm when Bhandari and Rai had got into the said accident. Bhandari, who is a mute, admitted to the crime in writing.

On Friday, Bhandari, armed with a khukuri, visited Shree Dibya Sawmill where Rai was employed

Bhandari was there to communicate with Rai about the accident, but Rai allegedly abused him. Bhandari then fatally attacked Rai with the khukuri.

As Bhandari descended to the ground floor, he encountered Shubhadra Bhujel, 76. Fearing she might raise an alarm, he fatally attacked her as well. At that moment, Shubhadra's son, Purna Bahadur Bhujel, 56, also known as Kumar, emerged from his room upon hearing his mother’s scream.

“Kumar had his phone to his ear, and Bhandari suspected he was calling the police, prompting him to attack and kill Kumar too,” SSP Rathor told ApEx. “Using the same weapon, Bhandari also took the life of Ambika Bhujel (52), Kumar’s wife.” 

The Bhujel family hailed from Dolakha, and Kumar was an employee at the mill. After committing multiple murders, Bhandari sought refuge at his sister’s residence in Kandaghari, where he spent the night. 

The next day, Bhandari met his school friends in Naxal as if nothing had happened. But on Sunday, he got wind that the authorities were looking into the case, and decided to flee to Sindhupalchok. 

Police apprehended him before he could leave Kathmandu.

In cold blood

• During interrogation, Sanjay Bhandari referred to a bike accident involving Bishal Rai. The exact date and the place of the accident are unclear
• Subsequently, per the statement given to police, Bhandari tried to talk with Rai about the accident, only to be assaulted   
• Sept 15: Bhandari first murdered Bishal Rai and then Purna Bahadur Bhujel, Ambika Bhujel and Shubhadra Bhujel suspecting that they may have witnessed the crime. Then he went to his sister’s place at Kandaghari and slept 
• Sept 16: Met his school friends at Chabahil 
• Sept 17: Police nabbed Bhandari while he was trying to flee to Sindhupalchok

The Hindu women across the country are observing the Rishi Panchami festival today as per the rituals. The festival, the concluding day of the Teej, is observed on the fifth day of bright half-moon of the month of Bhadra.

Hindu women reaching their menstruation period observe this festival with due respect and importance by fasting and paying homage to the Saptarshis (seven powerful saints as per the Hindu mythology) with a belief that they will be blessed and forgiven for all sins they believed to have committed during the menstrual cycle.

On the day, those observing the festival wake up early in the morning, go to nearby river, stream, pond and lake and take bath with established rituals. They clean their body with 365 stems of Apamarga, a medicinal plant; take bath with cow dung and soil collected from sacred places and ash.

The fasting ritual requires the devotee to take bath in the morning and carryout prayers after which the person is required to eat grains, vegetables, wild fruits, Kandamul, guava for a single meal and fast again.

On this day, woman devotees throng the Shrisheshwar Temple in Teku of the capital city, Kathmandu, and other Rishi Temples across the nation for homage and worship.

Police have released Dipendra Rai, who was arrested in connection with murder of four persons at Gairigaun in Tinkune, Kathmandu.

Rai was released after it was revealed in a police investigation that he had no involvement in the killing, said Senior Superintendent of Police Somendra Singh Rathaur of the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office.

According to him, Rai was released after his involvement in the murder was not found.

In connection with the murder, police arrested and made public Sanjaya Bhandari (23) of Bahrabise in Sindhupalchok district, currently living in Kandaghari, Kathmandu.

Bhandari has admitted to his involvement in the murder, said the police.

On Friday midnight, Nabin Rai (19) and Kumar Bhujel, his spouse Ambika Bhujel and mother Sumitra Bhujel (70) were found murdered at a sawmill in Gairigaun, Tinkune.

The government has issued a directive to the consumers and stakeholders against using 103 types of antibiotics.

Director General of the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) Narayan Prasad Dhakal said the directive has been issued to minimize, prevent and control use of antibiotic drugs.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also not recommended the use of these drugs. Dhakal said there is no rationality for using these antibiotics. "The WHO has published a list of 103 types of antibiotics which should not be used. We will neither register these drugs nor give permission for using them," he added.

According to him, however, 13 types among the 103 antibiotic drugs have been registered.

The DDA said it has prepared a national plan of action to reduce the rate of illness, death rate and the economic consequences resulting from resistance to antibiotics, which is in synchrony with the global action plan on antibiotic resistance. The plan is said to be in the final stages of approval.

Dhakal, the DDA Director General, said directives have been issued to the concerned agencies not to register, renew the registration and import as well as use these antibiotics. This directive, he said, is issued in line with the recommendation of the Drugs Advisory Committee.