Single Woman Murdered Over Inheritance Dispute and Family Feud; Nephew Arrested in Pokhara
On the evening of Chaitra 25 in Pokhara, Sirjana Paudel KC was fatally stabbed with a sharp weapon while walking from Shivalaya Chowk towards Sabha Griha Chowk. Following the incident, her nephew has been arrested, and police are currently searching for another suspect. Investigations indicate that the murder stemmed from family conflicts and inheritance disputes. Further inquiry is ongoing. (Chaitra 27, Pokhara) This horrific event in the bustling market area has shocked many and raised serious questions about security measures. The group fled after stabbing the woman in the neck with a sharp weapon. Sirjana, wounded by the khukuri attack, collapsed and died on the street. The victim, Sirjana Paudel KC of Pokhara–5, was a single woman operating a shoe shop in Prithvi Chowk.
After her elder wife committed suicide by poison, businessman Krishna KC married Sirjana four years ago. Krishna passed away two years ago, leaving Sirjana with a 3-year-old daughter. Police conclude that the murder was fueled by escalating family disputes and inheritance conflicts following her marriage and husband’s death. After evidence implicated her nephew in the crime, the police detained him. The nephew previously had run-ins with law enforcement for drug-related offenses, misconduct, and theft. The nephew was apprehended after attempting to flee on foot with the khukuri; meanwhile, police continue searching for the motorcycle driver involved. Investigations are uncovering further mysteries related to this gruesome murder, to the surprise of even the officers involved.
Sirjana’s husband, who was her companion through life’s joys and sorrows, had passed away two years ago. Their daughter was just one year old when he died and had never known her father. Sirjana was unaware that her life would turn so cruel and heartbreaking. After the elder wife’s suicide, Krishna, a businessman from Malepatan, married Sirjana, pledging lifelong support. However, family disputes and tensions surged following their marriage. After Krishna’s death two years back, conflicts with her late husband’s elder children intensified, prompting Sirjana to file an inheritance case in court.
Krishna, who traded fresh goat meat in Malepatan, owned properties there and in Sedi. Sirjana lived in the Sedi residence and ran a shoe shop on the roadside between Prithvi Chowk and Nagdhunga towards Syangja. On the evening of Wednesday, Chaitra 25, she had closed her shop and was returning towards Sabha Griha Chowk via Shivalaya Chowk when someone struck her neck with a sharp weapon nearby. She collapsed on the street, bleeding heavily from a severe head injury and died at the scene. This brutal act stunned residents of Pokhara and surrounding areas.
Many questions arise as to how a single woman running a small business and raising a 3-year-old daughter was tragically murdered. The absence of extensive CCTV footage at the crime scene posed challenges for identifying suspects, but the police ultimately arrested her own nephew who fled the scene. Preliminary investigations reveal the nephew claimed he committed the murder after feeling insulted and humiliated. Nevertheless, police are probing the possible involvement of other family members. According to police, the suspects had been surveilling Sirjana since daytime and took advantage of diminishing light and closing roadside shutters near Sabha Griha Chowk to carry out the attack.
Three family members have been summoned for questioning. Their statements and the ongoing inheritance issues helped police identify the main suspect. Authorities are examining evidence suggesting a possible conspiracy involving family insiders. The greatest inheritance dispute involved Sirjana’s stepson, who, however, is currently incarcerated on drug charges. Police suspect he may have had a role in the crime given ongoing property disputes between him and Sirjana. The inheritance case remains under judicial consideration.
Krishna’s elder wife had committed suicide by poison before Sirjana became his second wife. “The marriage a year after the elder wife’s death sowed tensions within the family, which eventually led to the suicide,” a police source explained. The family feud intensified after Krishna’s death two years ago. Krishna was a businessman trading fresh meat in Malepatan and had acquired multiple properties in Pokhara. He had two daughters and one son from his first marriage. The son is imprisoned for drug trafficking, one daughter is married, and the other remains unmarried.
Sirjana’s parental family has alleged that family members were involved in the murder and have been pressing police to thoroughly investigate. Authorities held a press conference on Friday afternoon to share further details. SP Naveen Karki stated, “The police have already arrested those involved and investigations are ongoing. New revelations are coming to light.” He added, “We will provide a full update on the case status during the press briefing.”