Couple murdered in Okhaldhunga

Kathmandu. The bodies of a couple have been found murdered in Okhaldhunga. According to the District Police Office, Okhaldhunga, the bodies of the couple were found at a house in Chisankhugadhi Rural Municipality-6 at around 7.30 am on Tuesday.

The deceased have been identified as Chandra Bikram Rai, 80, and his wife Chandramaya Rai. According to Police Inspector Bikram Bahadur Bhattarai of District Police Office, Okhaldhunga, preliminary investigation suggests that he was murdered with an intention to rob.

“I used to run a grocery store in the house. The place to keep the money in the shop has been demolished, it seems that the incident was for looting,” said Inspector Bhattarai. According to him, the couple had been staying at home.

Similar killings have been reported in Okhaldhunga in the past as well. “It seems to be similar to the previous incidents,” Bhattarai said, adding, “Investigation is underway into the incident.” A team of trained dogs has been called. ’

Earlier, a team of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) had arrested four people in connection with the robbery and murder in Okhaldhunga. The arrestees have been identified as 28-year-old Sangam Rai alias Milan, 30-year-old Binod Rai, 30-year-old Prakash Bhujel and 30-year-old Ashok Bhujel of Dorje of Chisang Rural Municipality-3.

The gang had murdered Shovit Man Thapa, 60, and his wife Ratnamaya Thapa Magar, 60, of Chisankhugadhi Rural Municipality-6 with sharp weapons and robbed them of Rs 100,000 in cash and jewelry. Prior to this, they have also been accused of murdering 52-year-old Ratna Kumari Katawal of Siddhicharan municipality-4 with an axe and robbed her of cash and jewelry.

Police confiscated an axe, a khukuri, a ring made with jewelry, a gun, a spade and a mobile phone from the gang.

But even after the gang claimed to have been arrested, the murder of another couple has become more mysterious. “We arrested the gang with evidences at that time,” said Inspector Bhattarai, adding, “It will be clear after the investigation whether there is a connection between the present incident and the previous incident.” ’