Husband murders wife amid marital disputes

KATHMANDU: A crime has shaken the Chinchu area of Surkhet, where a man killed his own wife following a breakdown of trust in their relationship.

The couple had married for love, but growing suspicion and disputes ultimately led to this brutal act.

According to police reports, 28-year-old Darshan Khatri, who was serving as a “Piuth” (non-commissioned) officer in the Nepali Army’s Veerdal Battalion in Panchthar, murdered his 26-year-old wife Prema Oli Khatri on Saturday evening.

The couple had a love marriage seven years ago. They had been living in Thakleni, Ward No. 5 of Gurbakot Municipality, Surkhet, along with their five-year-old daughter.

Investigations revealed that their relationship had been worsening in recent times, with frequent quarrels and mutual suspicion being reported. Both had begun doubting each other’s fidelity, leading to repeated conflicts.

Despite not coming home even during the Dashain holidays, Darshan contacted Prema on Saturday, claiming he wanted to give her a surprise. He lured her to meet him in Chinchu under false pretenses. They met around 6:30 PM while Prema was on her way to pick up some items. After meeting, they talked briefly before heading toward Birendranagar. However, the argument escalated again during the walk, and they diverted toward the Ram Janaki Community Forest.

How the Murder Happened

During the argument, Darshan forcibly took Prema’s mobile phone and found a photograph of another man, which intensified his rage. Prema also accused Darshan of having a relationship with another woman. The fight lasted for around 30 minutes.

In a fit of anger, Darshan picked up a stone and struck Prema on the head. After she fell unconscious to the ground, he waited until he was sure she had died. Then, using her own shawl, he strangled her. He dragged her body and dumped it into a nearby pit. To make it appear like a suicide, he manipulated the scene using nearby materials such as the shawl and other objects.

In his preliminary statement to police, Darshan confessed that he met Prema around 6:30 PM in Chinchu and murdered her by 8:00 PM. After disposing of her body in a trench, he returned to his home in Gurbakot, leaving his bag in a hotel in Surkhet to mislead investigators.

Discovery and Arrest

On Sunday afternoon, local residents discovered Prema’s body near the forest and alerted the police. Authorities recovered her mobile phone, a blood-stained shawl, and other evidence from the scene. Following a search operation, Darshan was arrested from his home. During interrogation, he admitted to the murder.

Police have obtained a five-day custody extension from the Surkhet District Court to continue their investigation into the case.