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
