Two Arrested in Parbat for Murder and Robbery

KATHMANDU. The District Police Office Parbat has arrested two people, including the main accused, involved in the murder and robbery of 52-year-old Santu Nepali (Somkumari Nepali) of Khanigaun, Phalebas Municipality-5. The police have made public the arrest of 28-year-old Kushal Puri from Khanigaun, accused of murdering Nepali, who was found brutally dead in her room on Jestha 8, and looting her jewelry, as well as Ramesh Kumar Shrestha, a jeweler who purchased the looted jewelry. According to the preliminary investigation by the police, accused Puri had an old acquaintance with the deceased Nepali, and they had consumed food and drinks together the night before the incident. During that time, Puri planned to rob the gold jewelry worn by Nepali and murdered her by striking her head with a kodalo (spade) at 2 AM. After the murder, he took 10 gold earrings and a gold chain from the deceased and replaced them with a fake gold chain he had brought. Police stated that to conceal the crime, the accused sprinkled mobile oil in the room, left the gas open, and even attempted arson by lighting an egg crate. Puri, who was absconding after the incident, was arrested by the police on Jestha 26 from a hotel in Patichaur, Modi Rural Municipality. During the search, 8 earrings were recovered from his possession. Based on Puri's statement, Ramesh Kumar Shrestha, the operator of Smriti Jewelery Industry in Kushma, who purchased the looted chain and two earrings, has also been taken into custody by the police. Currently, further investigation is underway against both accused for murder and robbery cases after extending their remand from the Parbat District Court, informed Rajan Kumar Patel, spokesperson for the District Police Office Parbat.