KATHMANDU: A labourer has been arrested on charge of murdering his fellow worker in Kageshwari Manahara Municipality, on the eastern outskirts of Kathmandu, on Wednesday, the Metropolitan Crime Division said.

A team of police deployed from the MCD arrested Prem Khadka alias Rajan Katuwal (42) of Khotang district, from Kathmandu. The identity of the deceased who appears to be in his late 40s is yet to be ascertained. However, people around eatery cafe in the area recognised him as Sanu Magar aka Mote of Sindhuli district.

Police subsequently sent the suspect to the Metropolitan Police Circle Bouddha for further investigation and action today itself, it said in a statement.

Magar was found dead submerged in pool of blood at a road side near the Mulpani Cricket Ground in the wee hours of Wednesday, according to police.

Magar and Khadka had become friends while working together at a house construction site in Sankhu area where Magar worked as a head labourer (head mistri). However, the co-workers had started working separately at different construction sites ever since they parted their ways in minor dispute over caste issues.

Around 11:00 pm yesterday, Magar visited Katuwal's room with ill intentions where they exchanged heated arguments which turned ugly. Subsequently, Katuwal chased down Magar and pelted him with stones and stroke with wooden plank in a fit of rage at a road side near the cricket ground, police said.