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Eight others convicted of battery, assault and aiding and abetting battery
The Paro Dzongkhag Court on 10th July 2026 convicted Kelden Dorji (commonly known as Gunda Kelden) and Dorji Genzin (popularly known as Rapper Cutie) for criminal attempt to commit voluntary manslaughter in connection with the violent incident involving Tashi Tshering (victim), sentencing them to 8 years and 10 months and 7 years in prison, respectively.
The court also convicted eight other individuals involved in the case for offences including battery, assault and aiding and abetting battery, with sentences ranging from imprisonment terms to fines.
The cases stem from a series of four related incidents that occurred on the night of 7 December 2025 involving the same group of individuals.
According to police and eyewitness accounts, the sequence of events began with an altercation inside a club in Paro, followed by separate incidents outside the venue, including a chase captured in a widely circulated video showing a group of youths pursuing an individual in Paro town.
The stabbing incident involving Tashi Tshering later that night was the most serious among the incidents.
The case before the Paro Dzongkhag Court involved charges arising from that attack.
Paro court findings
The court found that Kelden Dorji (Gunda Kelden) intentionally used a deadly weapon (katana knife) against the victim, causing permanent disability to his left index finger, right ring finger and little finger.
The court noted that although the victim survived due to timely intervention by bystanders, the repeated use of the weapon demonstrated the intention to cause serious bodily injury.
He was therefore sentenced to an imprisonment term of 8 years and 10 months under Sections 141, 134(a) and 10 of the PCB 2004. Deducting the period spent in detention of 1 month and 23 days, he shall serve the remaining imprisonment sentence of 8 years, 8 months, and 9 days.
Dorji Genzin (Rapper Cutie) was found equally liable after the court determined that he assisted Kelden Dorji in chasing, pursuing and attacking the victim, an act which the court found constituted criminal attempt to voluntary manslaughter.
The court reiterated that, if not saved by the pedestrians, the victim would have been killed by them.
Consequently, he was sentenced to an imprisonment term of 7 years. After deducting the period spent in detention of 23 days, he shall serve the remaining imprisonment sentence of 6 years and 11 months and 7 days.
Further, four individuals, Kinley Rigzen Dorji, Tenzin Choeda, Tshering Penjor and Ugyen Lhendup, were convicted of battery under aggravated circumstances. All of them were sentenced to 2 years and 10 months’ imprisonment, with the option to pay Thrimthue in lieu of imprisonment.
Kinley had admitted hitting the victim with a belt, punches and kicks.
Tenzin Choeda also voluntarily admitted throwing stones, one of which struck the victim’s back. The court found that this amounted to intentionally using adverse physical force as part of the group attack.
Tshering Penjor claimed he acted in self-defence. The court rejected that defence, finding no evidence to support it. Instead, it found that he joined a group chasing and physically attacking Jigme Choeda (a different victim) with punches.
Ugyen Lhendup argued that Kelden Dorji struck him first. However, he admitted punching and kicking Kelden Dorji. The court held that his own admission established aggravated battery.
Chogyal Zangpo and the victim Tashi Tshering were convicted of assault.
Chogyal Zangpo claimed he accidentally threw away a stone after it struck his leg. The court rejected this explanation, finding that he threw the stone towards the ongoing fight, creating a reasonable apprehension of bodily injury.
He can pay a fine of Nu. 10,625 (after deducting five days in detention), payable within 10 days.
The court found that the victim, Tashi Tshering, had grabbed Rapper Cutie by the chest during the confrontation at Club Insomnia and later made hostile Messenger voice calls too. The court concluded these actions constituted the initial provocation and caused apprehension of bodily injury, meeting the elements of assault.
He can pay a fine of Nu. 11,250, payable within 10 days.
Tenzin Tshering and Namgay Phuntsho were convicted of aiding and abetting battery.
The court found that Tenzin Tshering was present during the initial altercation at Club Insomnia, knew another confrontation was likely, transported the accused to the crime scene, stopped his vehicle, allowing them to chase the victims, and later drove them away from the scene and failed to report the crime.
Additionally, the court found that Namgay Phuntsho transported the principal offenders to and from the scene. He had admitted seeing knives when they returned to his vehicle.
The court found that he knowingly provided transportation that facilitated the offence.
Both Tenzin and Namgay were sentenced to 1 year and 5 months’ imprisonment, with eight days deducted and the option to pay Thrimthue.
Regarding compensation, the victim (Tashi Tshering) intends to institute a separate civil suit against Kelden Dorji, Dorji Genzin, Kinley Rigzen Dorji and Tenzin Choeda.
The compensation claims involving Tshering Penjor and Jigme Choeda had already been settled.
Thimphu case
Later the same night, some individuals allegedly involved in the Paro incident were involved in another confrontation in Thimphu, leading to a separate case before the Thimphu Dzongkhag Court.
In that case, the Thimphu Dzongkhag Court on 12 June 2026 convicted Kelden Dorji for aggravated battery and Dorji Genzin for accomplice liability. Kelden Dorji was sentenced to 2 years and 8 months’ imprisonment with an option to pay Thrimthue, while Dorji Genzin was sentenced to 10 months with an option to pay Thrimthue.
The Thimphu case was related to an incident around 4:30 am on 7 December 2025 near Hari Maya Mart, where Tenzin Samphel was attacked following a dispute over a jacket. The court found that Kelden Dorji attacked the victim with a sword provided by Dorji Genzin, causing injuries to the victim’s thigh and calf.
