36-year-old man murdered in Pakyong, accused arrested within hours

A 36-year-old man was found murdered in Pakyong on July 24 evening.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Paru Ruchal of Pakyong District said that around 5:20 PM, they received information about an unconscious man lying at a spot behind the Expo area in Pakyong Bazaar. “When our team reached the scene, we found the man bleeding heavily. A blood-stained stone was also discovered nearby, suggesting that it could be a murder case,” she said.

Police immediately formed an investigation team and started scanning the surrounding area. CCTV footage from nearby places was thoroughly reviewed. “We carefully examined the footage to identify people who had entered the area. Based on that, we found two to three individuals whose actions looked suspicious,” SSP Ruchal added.

The police launched a detailed probe and within a few hours between 11:30 PM and 12:00 midnight, they managed to arrest the accused. The deceased has been identified as Bijay Chhetri, a 36-year-old resident of Namchi Pok, who was living alone in Pakyong. The accused, Santos Gurung, aged 65, has been living in Pakyong for several years.

The police registered a murder case under IPC 103, along with additional charges related to concealing evidence and Offences Made Intentionally (OMI). The weapon used in the crime has also been recovered.

“We are still investigating. We have recovered key evidence and are continuing to look into all aspects of the case,” said SSP Ruchal.