A minor dispute that turned ugly led to a person losing his life at Terathum on Sunday night.

According to the police, Ramesh Kandawa, 33, of Thoklung-3, was attacked with a khukuri by one Padam Pandhak, 45 of Sablakhu, Taplejung following a dispute about the maintenance of a drinking water system at Sankranti VDC at 9:30pm yesterday.

According to Police DSP Sudip Rajbhandari, Pandhak attacked Kandawa in the head with the weapon after a heated argument after which the latter succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Panchthar District hospital on Monday morning at 3am.

Police DSP Rajbhandari informed that Pandhak has fled the scene and is on the run and search is underway.