Lalitpur, October 10:

The people of Sainbu village, who teamed up and resorted to vandalism on Monday to avenge the murder of an eight-year-old boy, Dhiraj Adhikari, say they are getting threats through mobile phones and feeling insecure.

On that day, everyone seemed aggrieved and mournful over the death of the kid. Shops were closed and activities came to a standstill yesterday. Job holders did not go to offices. “I opened my shop from this morning,” said Ajit Shrestha. “Things have not normalised in the village yet.”

According to locals, the Sainbu chowk, which used to be full of people till 10 pm, is deserted from early evening. “People go home at around 6 pm and nobody comes out,” Shrestha said. People are worried about their security as they are receiving threats. Locals believe that the arrested have a wider network.

“Some police officials suggested me to be careful as I am targeted by the murderers’ network,” said a local, who was among those who vandalised the house of the alleged murderers.

“A few strangers have begun moving around at night and this has frightened us,” Tuk Maya Pradhan told this daily.

The Dharma Bhakta Secondary School (DBSS) remains closed since Monday, the day Dhiraj was found dead, because many children seem traumatised,” Devi Prasad Acharya, high school in-charge at the DBSS, said.

Suman KC, another local, said parents are not allowing their children to go out on their own. “Many of us are receiving threats through mobile phones,” he said, adding, “Those accused have threatened to kidnap 15 other children of the village and kill five to six villagers.” The police have arrested alleged kidnapping mastermind Nabin Shrestha, Raj Kumar Shrestha, Tika Ram Shrestha and taxi driver Bhoj Kumar Lama. Other accused, Rajkumar Lama and Raju Magar, are absconding. Adhikari was kidnapped when he was returning home from the DBSS on Thursday and murdered the same day.