March 26, 2026
THIMPHU – A 12-year-old boy who allegedly murdered a 68-year-old in Ngatshang, Mongar, on September 9, last year, confessed to the crime and has been charged with homicide.
Following the completion of the police investigation, the case was forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General in November last year. Officials say they are awaiting DNA results from the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) before proceeding further.
The victim’s relatives have expressed scepticism over the boy’s alleged role, suggesting that another individual, possibly a family member, may have been involved. DNA samples from the deceased have been collected as part of the ongoing inquiry.
According to case details, the incident occurred in Nyingala village, where the victim, who ran a small grocery shop, encountered the boy while tending to her cattle near her home. The two were neighbours.
During the encounter, the woman reportedly called the boy a “thief”, a term she had allegedly used on previous occasions. Infuriated, the boy is said to have struck her on the back of the head with a wooden baton. Standing on sloping ground, the victim fell forward onto her face.
The boy then fled the scene, taking the victim’s phone and watch. While the phone was later recovered, the watch is still missing. The boy told police he had thrown it into the forest.
The victim was discovered unconscious by her granddaughter’s husband, who had just returned from Mongar. She was taken to the Ngatshang Primary Health Centre, where she was declared dead on arrival. The police were subsequently informed.
The case was initially treated as an accidental fall. However, injuries, including bruises on the victim’s thigh, hand, and head, prompted suspicion of foul play, leading to a formal investigation.
While villagers denied involvement, investigators noted scratch marks on the boy’s face and neck. During questioning, he confessed to the attack.
Police had indicated that the boy may not have acted alone. Nevertheless, in his statement, the suspect maintained that he committed the act by himself, in a fit of anger.