By Tara Chapagain Dube, Pokhara, Jun 21: Alcohol selling is still rampant and similar is the practice of drinking despite the government’s imposing lockdown across the country.

A result of alcohol consumption has led to murder of three persons in Pokhara by their close friends even amid COVID restrictions.

On May 16, Kaski police came to know that Gyan Bahadur Pariyar, a resident of Pokhara 16, had killed his friend Bimal Ranabhat and arrested Pariyar.

The murder was not a fresh one because Pariyar and six others had buried Ranabhat’s body by digging a pit at a nearby field.

Ranabhat was called by Pariyar in his house following suspicion over the former’s affair with his wife and the two started drinking. Ranabhat was later murdered.

Among the arrestees, Pariyar and three others are in prison, while three others have been released for now.

Similarly, Sujan BK, a resident of Pokhara 26, was killed by his two friends – Prakash Gharti Magar and Thaman Pun Magar – on May 16.

The duo killed Sujan following a normal dispute which arose while they were drinking. Sujan was hit with a stone on his head.

The body of Sujan was thrown across a stone-made wall and buried in the ground.

Police recovered the body three days later on May 19 after they had initiated an investigation following a complaint by Sujan’s mother that her son was missing.

The duo have been sent to prison by Kaski District Court.

Likewise, Amit Rasaili, a resident of Pokhara 29, was killed by his friends following a dispute ensued during party organised by Rasaili himself after the purchase of a new motorcycle. The dispute was over the issue of whose motorcycle and girlfriend were beautiful.

Rasaili’s body was then thrown in the Seti River. Police initiated the search next day on June 14 when one of his friends called the police and informed about Rasaili’s disappearance.

Police recovered the body from the river and started an investigation by arresting Rasaili’s friends.

These three incidents were results of dispute which led to murder due to effects of alcohol consumption even in the time of restrictions imposed by the government to contain the coronavirus.

“Despite the lockdown, drinking and selling of alcohol is still rampant,” said DSP Subash Hamal of Kaski District Police.

“The investigation will also be conducted over the places where they had consumed alcohol. Some had also taken home-made liquor themselves. The investigation is being conducted on a broader ambit,” he added.