BAGLUNG: It has been revealed that 17-year-old Lajin Thapa of Badigad Rural Municipality-1, Baglung, was beaten to death by his own friends after he refused to give them his mobile phone.

Thapa, who had gone to celebrate the birthday of local resident Asim Ban on July 16, was found dead on Thursday in the local Mankhola stream.

According to the District Police Office, four suspects—20-year-old Rem Bahadur BK, 19-year-old Sudip BK, 16-year-old Asim Ban, and 15-year-old Dadi Pariyar—have been taken into custody for their alleged involvement in the crime.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Phadindra Prasai of the District Police Office stated that the group of friends consumed alcohol late into the night while celebrating the birthday, and a dispute over a mobile phone broke out on their way home, leading to the fatal beating.

“The dispute appears to have started after Lajin Thapa refused to give them his iPhone,” SP Prasai said. “After Lajin fell unconscious from the assault and died, they hid his body at a location about a half-hour walk away from the incident site.”

According to SP Prasai, although seven people were present during the birthday celebration, the others left for home, while Rem Bahadur and Dadi followed Lajin Thapa to an isolated spot and attacked him.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Lajin’s friends drank alcohol together at the local Daga Tumdanda Primary School until 2:30 AM on the night of July 16.

Police also noted that a nine-year-old child was present during the birthday gathering.

After Lajin remained missing for a week, police conducted a search operation using technical experts, trained sniffer dogs, and drone cameras.

The District Police Office stated that a case of enforced disappearance/hiding a person has been registered against the detainees, and further investigation is underway.

Lajin, who was studying in Grade 11 at a college in Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu, had recently returned home.

Having gone to celebrate his friend’s birthday, he tragically fell victim to murder at the hands of his own friends.