Nine members of two families murdered in cold blood in Panchthar

PANCHTHAR, May 21: A group of masked people murdered nine members of two families at Miklajung rural municipality- 3, Panchthar on Monday night, according to the police.

Sharp weapons were used to kill the families of local Dhanraj Sherma and his father-in-law Bam Bahadur Phiya, said the locals.

Only a member of the families–Sita Khajum, 12, managed to survive the fatal attack. She has been severely injured in the attack. Mutilated bodies of five family members of Dhanraj were found inside the house, while bodies of the four family members of Bam Bahadur were recovered outside, said local Archana Gurung.

Ward chair of the village Hastaraj Phiyak confirmed the attack. The carnage survivor Sita said a group of masked people broke into the house at midnight on Monday and killed the family members with sharp weapons.

Other dead have been identified as Dhanraj, 41, Jasmita Phiyak, 36, Man Kumari Phiyak, 26, six-year-old Iksha Sherma, Yobana Sherma, 13, eight-year-old Muna Sherma, Bam Bahadur, 74 and his wife and 12-year-old Aashika Khajum Limbu. The local people heard about the attack only the following morning as the massacre took place at midnight, said the villagers.

Separate teams from police beat at Dashami bazaar, Area Police Office, Rabi and the district police officers headed to the incident site at 6 am today morning, Inspector Anil Kumar Poudel. The police also confirmed the attack. RSS