Kathmandu, July 6
A shocking case of mass murder in Bhojpur has gripped the nation after a man allegedly killed four members of his partner’s family following a domestic dispute over the return of his 16-year-old ‘wife’.
The Bhojpur District Police Office received a distress call at midnight on Sunday. The caller, later identified as 30-year-old Rajendra Rai, frantically told police, “My life is in danger. I’ve stabbed three people.”
He claimed he was attacked and had acted in self-defense. He also informed police that the incident occurred in Ram Prasad Rai Rural Municipality-2, Dhodlekani.
According to Ward Chairperson Raj Kumar Tamang, it takes at least 5 to 6 hours to reach the location from the district headquarters. Even the nearest police unit would require a minimum of two hours to arrive at the scene.
Province 1 Police Chief DIG Ishwar Karki said that a police team was immediately dispatched from the temporary outpost in Okhre after the call was received. A second team from the district headquarters was also mobilised.
“When the team reached the scene, they found three people already dead,” DIG Karki confirmed. “Another team was then sent to track down the caller, Rajendra Rai.”
Inside a bamboo-thatched house, police discovered the bodies of 68-year-old Bel Bahadur Giri, his wife Manju Giri, their 16-year-old daughter, and 10-year-old son lying lifeless on a bed.
Rai, however, was not found at the scene. According to an officer involved in the investigation, it took nearly half an hour to locate him.
“He may have hidden out of fear that he’d be killed after committing the murders,” the officer said. “He might have contacted the police out of panic. Locals were already searching for him, and it appears he only emerged once he knew police had arrived.”
Inspector Deepak Shrestha of Bhojpur Police said Rai was found injured in Harbubhanjyang, Ward 1 of the same municipality—around 4 to 5 kilometers from the crime scene. He had sustained stab wounds to his abdomen and was covered in blood.
“He was immediately taken to Bhojpur District Hospital,” Shrestha said. “He has now been referred to BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan for further treatment.”
In his preliminary statement, Rai claimed that all four family members attacked him, and he stabbed them in self-defense. He said this was the reason he called the police.
According to investigators, Rai worked as a painter in Bhojpur Bazaar and had been in a relationship with the Giris’ 16-year-old daughter. Despite the family’s disapproval, he had eloped with the girl and lived with her for about nine months.
“The family never accepted the relationship,” said one investigating officer. “Recently, the girl’s mother brought her back home.”
About four or five days ago, Rai visited the Giri residence to take his wife back, but the family refused. He reportedly argued with them again on Saturday night.
“According to him, the argument escalated after the family denied sending the girl with him. He claims they attacked him and he retaliated,” the officer said.
However, with all four family members now dead, police say it will be difficult to verify Rai’s version of events.
“It seems the dispute began around 9 or 10 pm after the mother refused to let the girl go,” said the officer. “The killings are believed to have occurred between 11 pm and midnight.”
Police are now investigating the case from multiple angles and questioning individuals close to both the victim’s family and Rajendra Rai. Officers say Rai has confessed to the killings and promised to share all details once his condition improves.
This case echoes the gruesome 2019 mass killing in Miklajung-3, Arubote, Panchthar, where nine people from two families were murdered. The perpetrator was later found hanging from a tree about 25 kilometers from the crime scene.
Investigators note that in most cases of family massacres, the accused often go on to commit suicide. “When a person wipes out their entire family, they may feel there’s nothing left to live for,” said one officer. “Had police arrived any later in Bhojpur, the outcome might have been even more tragic.”
