KATHMANDU: Two Indians, including a child, were burnt alive in a fire that broke out in a furniture factory in Imadol- 2, Lalitpur, today.

Police said the two, whose bodies were charred beyond recognition in the Sharma Furniture in the wee hours, have been identified as Ajaya Sharma (24) and Abhinish Kumar Sharma (13), hailing from Sitamadi district in Bihar, India.

Abhinish had been here five days ago to go around Kathmandu Valley and was preparing to leave for his home village tomorrow, said Rabindra Sharma, the proprietor of the factory.

The bodies were found four hours after firefighters from Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, police personnel and locals brought the fire under control.

“My elder brother (Ajaya) had married just a year

ago and his wife back

home is expecting a baby soon,” said grieving

Bijaya, who also works as a carpenter here.

The fire that broke out in the two-storey building belonging to one Shiba Hari Karki also destroyed property worth Rs 1 million.

Though it is said the fire broke out due to a short circuit, the victims’ relatives refused to buy the argument and accused the co-tenants of setting the house on fire for “retribution.”

Rabindra, Ajaya’s brother-in-law, said Bijaya

Khadki, who runs a meat shop in the building, had been engaged in a heated discussion with Ajaya yesterday over a bucket being used in the well.

“Khadki asked Ajaya where the bucket was and the latter replied that the landlord had taken it away. Khadki then repeatedly slapped him in the face,” said Rabindra. “Khadki then called a gang of five persons and beat him up”.

Khadki had also reportedly threatened Ajaya

over the telephone. “Wait and see what will

happen tonight,” he reportedly told Ajaya.

The Metropolitan Police Range, Lalitpur, has detained Milan Khadki, brother of Bijaya Khadki, for interrogation. The suspect is said to be absconding. “A search operation is on,” SP Bikram Singh Thapa said.