May 11, Kathmandu - A young man was murdered over a dispute related to a mobile phone at an auto workshop. The victim, 30-year-old Ashish Khanal, was allegedly killed by his friend during an argument over the return of a mobile device.

The incident occurred on the night of May 7th at around 11:25 PM at the Samabhav Auto Workshop in Bharatpur-7. According to police, the accused, Krishna Bahadur Khadka, a resident of Gaindakot Municipality-17, demanded the return of Khanal’s Samsung S21 5G phone, which had been purchased on installment.

As tensions escalated over the phone, Khadka reportedly demanded money in return, leading to a heated dispute. Police have not disclosed the exact amount Khadka claimed he was owed. The two friends had a six-year-old friendship, but the disagreement turned violent.

Sources from the auto workshop revealed that after Khanal’s phone was stolen, the workshop provided him with an old phone to use. However, repeated requests by Khanal to retrieve his phone led to verbal abuse and a physical altercation, which tragically ended in Khanal’s death.

On the night of the incident, witnesses say Khadka and another friend approached Khanal on a motorcycle outside the workshop. When Khanal was pressured to step outside, he was attacked with a screwdriver by Khadka, who allegedly struck him repeatedly in the abdomen and chest.

Medical reports confirmed Khanal’s death at Bharatpur Hospital shortly after the attack. Meanwhile, Khadka, with the help of accomplice Samrat Gurung from Pokhara, was hiding in Pokhara before being arrested by a police team led by Inspector Deepak Khatka at a hotel on Sunday morning.

Khadka has been charged with murder, and further investigation is ongoing. The Chitwan District Court has extended his remand as police continue to gather evidence. Authorities have assured that the investigation will proceed thoroughly to bring justice for the victim.