Absconding murder accused held

Our Correspondent

KULLU, AUGUST 23

The police today arrested Khage Nipone alias Kharag Singh Bahadur (32) of Nepal, accused in the murder case of Ram Chander of Uttar Pradesh. He was killed on the night of August 19 in Thella village of the Garsa valley in Bhuntar.

Kullu SP Gurdev Sharma said victim Ram Chander was working as a mason in the house of Harish Kumar and the accused was working as a caretaker in an apple orchard around the house. They had a clash over some matter.

He said Dharamjeet of Santkabir Nagar in Uttar Pradesh registered a complaint on August 20 that while he and Ram Chander were sleeping, the accused entered their room and started hitting Ram Chander with an iron rod due to which he sustained injuries and died on the spot.

The SP said the accused fled the place with his two children. The children of the accused reached back home yesterday and, on investigation, it was found that a person from Satring village, working as a mason, had brought them back. He added that on interrogation of the mason, it was found that the accused was still in the area.

A combing operation was carried out and the accused was found hiding in a field along the nullah near Satring village. He said the accused was arrested and further investigation is under way. The mason was also arrested for helping the accused.