Panchthar, June 19

A series of murder incidents have left locals of Panchthar terrified.

Eleven persons were killed in gruesome three murder incidents in the past five weeks leaving the district residents terrorised.

Sujata Tamang, 20, working as trainee assistant at NMB Bank’s branch at Gopetar branch was murdered with a knife at Bharapa of Hilihang Rural Municipality yesterday in the latest incident. Tamang’s body was found with a sharp knife stuck on her neck in Sikte forest of Jharpa.

According to Panchthar District Police Office, Tamang was murdered when she was at Hilihang’s Ratmate area to collect interest and instalment from a group formed by a micro-finance. Cash amounting to Rs 78,000 was looted from her possession. Police have initiated an investigation into Tamang’s murder, said DSP Narendra Kunwar.

Earlier, Sital Yonghang, 15, a tenth grader at Sidda Secondary School at Hilihang Rural Municipality, was murdered on May 12. Her former boyfriend Padam Tamang, and his accomplices Bhagirath Bastola and Karna Tamang have been arrested for their involvement in Yonghang’s killing. It is learnt that Tamang killed Yonghang by slitting her throat with help from his aides.

Nine members of Dhanraj Sherma and Bam Kumar Fiyak’s families were massacred at Arubote of Miklajong, on May 20. Two females, five children and two males were murdered. Man Bahadur Makhim, suspected to be behind the carnage was found hanging from a tree.

The latest incident of Sujata Tamang’s killing has added to the terror among locals. “I could not believe my ears that Sujata, who came to my home and returned with interest at 8:00am, was killed”, said Gajhang Lingden of Hilihang. The last incident has unleashed terror among locals of Bharapa area.

Locals have stopped stepping out of home. “We feel scared when we see new people,” said head teacher Hom Adhikari of Falgunanda Basic School.