Murder of Suku in Pokhara and Subsequent Killing in Nawalpur After Life Imprisonment Sentence

Sanjoy Bik, involved in the murder of Suku Bik from Tanahun Bhimad and other crimes, was arrested on 18th Baisakh in Pokhara. The police had faced a significant challenge following the murder of Suku at a hotel located in the busy Nagdhunga area of Pokhara. Questions arose around the police investigation and security measures as the suspect remained at large for an extended period. It took over eight months for the police to track down the accused at Unique Hotel, Nagdhunga. Eventually, Sanjoy Bik, aged 29 from Galikot Municipality–9, Malma, Baglung, was apprehended in the first week of Shrawan 2081 (mid-July 2024). On Jestha 27, 2083 (mid-June 2026), the Kaski District Court sentenced him to life imprisonment. Investigations revealed that Sanjoy lured 38-year-old Suku to the hotel, proposed sexual contact, and upon her refusal, strangled her to death before fleeing with her gold jewelry. Based on this investigation, the court imposed life imprisonment and a fine of 70,000 rupees.

During the series of crimes and the Janajati Movement, Sanjoy went into hiding. On Bhadra 24 (early September 2025), during a prison break at Pokhara prison, several inmates, including Sanjoy, escaped. Subsequently, he committed another murder and robbery in Nawalpur. While in hiding since the escape, Sanjoy managed to evade the police. On Chaitra 23, 2082 (early April 2026), in Tangikot Tole, Devchuli, Nawalparasi, he attacked and robbed gold jewelry from a 75-year-old husband and his 71-year-old wife. Jiuun Ram Thanet and his wife Gulbasniya Thanet were assaulted in their sleep; their heads were struck, and gold jewelry stolen. Despite being taken unconscious by relatives to the Old Medical College in Bharatpur, Chitwan, Jiuun Ram Thanet died immediately.

After escaping from jail in Bhadra, Sanjoy’s new murder in Nawalpur posed a further major challenge for law enforcement. The police mobilized a task force in Aswin 2082 (mid-September 2025) to apprehend him, but he remained at large. Committing another murder seven months post-escape led to increased concerns. A joint team from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Nepal Provincial Police Office Pokhara, and District Police Office Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East) was deployed. Finally, Sanjoy was arrested in Nawalpur. He had made acquaintances with women to hide, living secretly in Kathmandu at the home of a relative of his girlfriend. Police arrested him on Baisakh 15, 2083 (late May 2026). The team including the CIB handed him over to the Nawalpur District Police Office. He has been given a seven-day investigation extension by the district court. According to Nawalpur Police Chief Yuvaraj Khadka, Sanjoy will be placed either in Kaski or Nawalpur prison per the court’s verdict. SP Khadka noted that a special police unit succeeded in arresting Sanjoy. Sources in the police revealed Sanjoy frequently formed relationships with women, engaged in sexual activities, and committed robberies at various locations.

Sanjoy had a previous theft case registered against him in Asad 2072 (June 2015). On Mangsir 5, 2080 (mid-November 2023), he murdered Suku from Tanahun Bhimad in a hotel. He was sent to prison for trial on Shrawan 29, 2081 (mid-August 2024), and on Jestha 27, 2082 (mid-June 2025), the district court sentenced him to life imprisonment. Serious criminals who escaped during the Janajati Movement, such as Sanjoy, have continued to engage in serious crimes nationwide, including murder, drug trafficking, and rape, posing a major security challenge. Following the prison break on Bhadra 24, 2082 (early September 2025), when 773 inmates escaped from Kaski prison, 130 remain at large, according to Jhnakanath Paudel, acting administrator of Kaski prison.