Chencho Dema

A 33-year-old man met a tragic end as he was fatally stabbed by a friend under the influence of alcohol in Bajothang, Wangdue in the early hours yesterday. 

According to police, both the deceased and the suspect were in attendance at a ritual hosted by the suspect’s cousin sister in Bajothang. Following the ritual, they partook in drinking and gambling activities.  

A dispute arose between the suspect and the deceased during a gambling session over money, and ended up fighting. Others at the house stopped the fight and separated them. 

The deceased was escorted out of the room. However, upon returning to retrieve his slippers, he met the suspect once again.

They fought again and the deceased fell to the floor. The suspect used a Rambo knife to fatally stab the deceased on the side of his navel before fleeing the scene, leaving the weapon behind.

Wangdue police received a report of the incident at 4am when a relative of the deceased called to inform them. The victim succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.

The 28-year-old suspect was apprehended half an hour later, walking along the road in town. During questioning, he told police that he was en route to the police station to surrender.

The suspect, employed at a meat shop in Bajothang, and the deceased, a driver for a meat vehicle of the shop.

The suspect has been charged with voluntary manslaughter, a second-degree felony as per the Penal Code (Amendment) Act of Bhutan 2011. This charge carries a prison term of nine to fifteen years.