Accused in Tinkune massacre expresses regret for not killing police informant

KATHMANDU: The accused, who was detained on the charge of murdering four people in Tinkune, Kathmandu, on Bhadra 29 (Sept 15), has begun the process of obtaining a bail letter from the Kathmandu district court.

District Police Complex Kathmandu completed the investigation and submitted the report on Wednesday. The District Public Prosecutor’s Office Kathmandu filed a case in district court the next day.

As there will be no regular case hearings in court beginning on Sunday, the detention order in this instance could be granted today. The court has designated an interpreter for this purpose.

Purna Bahadur Bhujel alias Kumar Bhujel of Kalinchowk Rural Municipality-8 of Dolakha, his wife Ambika Bhujel and mother Shubhadra Bhujel and 19-year-old Naveen Rai of Dhankut, Bhirgaun and currently residing in Belbari Municipality-2 of Morang were killed inside the wood sawmill in Tinkune, Gairigaun

Sanjay Bhandari, 23, of Sindhupalchowk Bahrabise Municipality-9, has been detained on suspicion of their murder.

He admitted that he had caused the incident when he was arrested. Similarly, during his statement to the investigating officer, he admitted to the incident and detailed how he committed it.

Bhandari’s declaration, which he cannot speak or hear, was given through an interpreter and in writing. He graduated from a deaf school with a diploma in class 12.

On Bhadra 31 (Sept 17), two days after the event, Bhandari was apprehended by the Kathmandu Police Complex. The firearms used in the event, as well as the clothes he was wearing at the time, have been retrieved by authorities.

During a police a conversation, he stated, “I am cruel because of social discrimination.” There is no affection for anyone. I’ve also been involved in a number of similar events in the past. I went to that chamber to rest after killing four people in Tinkune. I dozed out for a while, not feeling at all uncomfortable.’

Several people have been killed in Ratopul, Dhumbarahi, Bhatkeko Pul, Bhatbhateni, Bouddha, Bode in Bhaktapur, Duwachaur in Sindhupalchowk, Panchpokhri, and Namche in Kathmandu as a result of social discrimination towards deaf people.

‘I have no idea who I killed in these areas. I killed everyone with sharp weapons. The exact date of the murder is unknown. It is the police’s responsibility to investigate,’ he stated in his subsequent comments.

It was also discovered that he mentioned killing other people in the message. However, he has stated that the individual was killed.

Similarly, he has given a statement that he regretted not killing the persosn who informed the authorities about the Tinkune event. He has stated that if he had been killed as well, the police would not have known about the incident and he would have been successful in concealing the body.

“After I killed four people, when I was resting, if I had managed to kill the person who came to the scene with a light bulb, this incident would not have come out,” he said in the statement, “as he informed the police about the incident, the police succeeded in arresting me.” If the person had not come to the scene after the incident and if I had killed him too, I think I would have been able to manage all the dead bodies.’

He has given a statement that he regrets that he ran away without killing him as he was confused about the gathering of people.

-Tenzing Dolma Tamang/MK