Three arrested over murder of 69-year-old battery trader in Biratnagar

Morang, October 29, 2026 — Police have arrested three people, including a hardware trader, in connection with the alleged murder of 69-year-old Lalji Prasad Gupta, a battery business operator who had been living in Biratnagar for about four decades.

The arrested include 36-year-old Afroz Alam, a resident of Swagat Chowk in Biratnagar Metropolitan City-6 who operated a hardware warehouse in Mahabir Chowk. Police also arrested a 13-year-old Indian boy and a 16-year-old Nepali boy on suspicion of helping dispose of Gupta’s body. The three were arrested on Tuesday night and presented to the public at a press conference on Wednesday.

Gupta, who ran Lal Battery and Sons Traders along Dharan Road in Biratnagar-6, had been missing since around 3 pm on Friday, Kartik 6, according to the information provided. Two days later, his body was found abandoned on the bank of the Keshaliya River at Bhimpur in Barju Rural Municipality-2, Sunsari.

A police team from the District Police Office, Sunsari, arrested the suspects following technical and on-site investigations, police said.

According to the preliminary investigation, a dispute arose after Gupta allegedly spread rumours that Alam had stolen wire from Mata Electric Works in Biratnagar-6, where wire used in water pumps had gone missing several days earlier. Police said the allegation led to a growing conflict between the two.

Investigators said Alam called Gupta to his home on Kartik 6, saying they would discuss the accusation. During the ensuing argument, Alam allegedly struck Gupta on the head with an iron GI pipe. Police said Gupta died at the scene after being attacked again when he was seriously injured.