Mangalbazaar stabbing: How brothers were murdered

KATHMANDU: Two brothers have been fatally stabbed following a confrontation that began with a misdialled phone call in Lalitpur, police in Nepal say.

The victims, 33-year-old Sumit Nembang and his 25-year-old brother Srijan Nembang, were attacked on Tuesday evening near Krishna Mandir in Mangalbazaar, part of Lalitpur Metropolitan City-12.

According to investigators, the chain of events began earlier that day, on Chait 25, when Sumit accidentally dialled the wrong number while visiting the Patan Durbar Square area with family members, including his uncle.

The call reached Sanjeev Nepali, also known as “Sanju”, a 32-year-old resident of Bholadhoka, Lalitpur.

Police say a verbal dispute followed and continued throughout the day.

At around 7:00pm, Sanjeev Nepali contacted Sumit again to ask his location.

After learning the group was in Mangalbazaar, he travelled there on a scooter accompanied by 22-year-old Gagan Sunar, originally from Gaindakot Municipality in Nawalparasi and currently living in Lalitpur-8.

The two groups met on the steps of Krishna Mandir, where the argument escalated into violence.

Police say Sanjeev Nepali, who works at a meat shop in Bholadhoka, had brought a knife to them, suggesting premeditation. During the confrontation, he allegedly stabbed Sumit in the abdomen.

When Srijan attempted to intervene, he was also stabbed in the neck and abdomen.

Both men collapsed at the scene.

Officers from the Lalitpur District Police Range arrived within three minutes of receiving reports of the attack at approximately 7:40pm, according to Senior Superintendent of Police Hobindra Bogati.

The suspects attempted to flee but were quickly apprehended. Sanjeev Nepali was arrested while trying to escape into a nearby restaurant, while Gagan Sunar was also detained.

Police recovered a knife, a sharp blade and a metal rod from them.

The injured brothers were rushed to B&B Hospital in Gwarko, where doctors pronounced them dead at around 2:00am on Wednesday.

The victims, originally from Kamal Rural Municipality-6 in Jhapa, had been living in Imadol, Lalitpur. Police confirmed they were biological brothers.

Authorities say the killings appear to have been triggered by a dispute stemming from the accidental phone call, which escalated into a planned confrontation.

SSP Bogati described the attack as driven by “sudden rage and provocation”, while also noting evidence that the main suspect had come armed in advance.

Police say further investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances and motive behind the incident.

Family members said Sumit Nembang had been preparing to travel to London — a plan that was cut short by the fatal attack.