Kathmandu, September 4

A man allegedly murdered his employer’s son over his affair with a woman yesterday. The Metropolitan Police Crime Division made the incident public after the arrest of Ranjeet Sharma, 22, from Motihari of Bihar, India, in connection with the shocking murder of Mantu Sharma, 20, a permanent resident of the same Indian state of Bihar.

A team of MPCD had arrested Ranjeet within one hour of the incident, which took place at BM Furniture Factory owned by Umesh Sharma, the victim’s father, at Tushal, Bouddha at around 11:30 pm. Preliminary investigation shows that Ranjeet slit Mantu’s throat while the latter was asleep in the room they shared.

The victim’s father was not at the furniture factory when the incident took place and is said to have left for his home state of Bihar just a few days back.

Police officials said Ranjeet had been enjoying a good relationship with the victim’s family.  Ranjeet came to Kathmandu in 2010 in search of a job and met Umesh, the owner of the furniture factory. He employed Ranjeet as a carpenter.

In November last year, a woman (whose identity has not been disclosed) met Ranjeet and requested him to find a job for her. Subsequently, Ranjeet convinced Umesh to hire her as a painter. With the passage of time, they developed a strong liking for each other.

According to the MPCD, Ranjeet had sexual relationship with the victim. “Things took a nasty turn after Ranjeet started suspecting Mantu of making advances to the woman. He had found Mantu going out on a date a day before the murder,” said SSP Sarbendra Khanal, MPCD in-charge.

As Mantu returned home at around 7.30 pm, he allegedly threatened Ranjeet to stay away from the woman and not to come between them or else he would kill him.

Ranjeet and Mantu had their dinner together and went to bed. “After Mantu fell asleep, Ranjeet took a chisel and slit the victim’s throat,” informed SSP Khanal. Police have also recovered the blood-stain chisel.  Ranjeet had stepped out of the house and cried for help to cover up his crime after the murder.