Jhapa, March 13

Three persons, who were held on the charge murdering gold entrepreneur Sajan Mukhiya a few days ago, were made public in Jhapa, today.

Paras Kumar Dev, 29, of Birtamode; Dipesh Poudel, 19, of Tribenitole; and Chiranjibi Oli of Chhatedhunga, Terhathum were made public at a press meet organised at Area Police Office Birtamode today.

Dev and Poudel were held from Birtamode and Oli was held from Terhathum yesterday.

District Police Office Jhapa Chief SP Bishnu Kumar Chhetri said, jewellery entrepreneur Dev had masterminded the murder using Oli and Poudel due to jealousy because Mukhiya’s business was blooming rapidly. According to SP Chhetri, Dev had hatched the murder plot hoping to get Mukhiya’s business at a time when his business was deteriorating.

Mukhiya had left his shop Deva Jewellers at around 1:30pm to go to Riddhi Siddhi Jewellers, operated by Paras Kumar Dev on March 4. After that Dev took Mukhiya to the latter’s house at Tamutole, Birtamode-5, on his scooter. He was murdered within one or one-and-a-half hours. The body was dumped at Kolbung of Rong Municipality -3, in Ilam on an Indian number plate vehicle the same evening. The body was found inside a sack.