Fairfax Man Recounts Meat Cleaver Attack by Father-in-Law

Santosh Basnet speaks out after his father-in-law killed two family members and attacked him in their apartment.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Santosh Basnet, a Fairfax County man, recounted the horrific scene in which his father-in-law, Chhatra Thapa, killed Basnet's wife Mamta and mother-in-law Binda Thapa with a meat cleaver, before attacking Basnet himself. Basnet survived the attack and is recovering, while his 1-year-old son is staying with a relative.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the need for greater mental health support and resources for immigrant families facing challenges after relocating. It also raises questions about domestic violence prevention and response protocols in the local community.

The details

According to reports, Chhatra Thapa, Basnet's father-in-law, had recently moved in with the family after experiencing issues back home in Nepal. Early on February 25th, Thapa attacked his daughter Mamta and wife Binda, killing them both. When Basnet returned home and encountered the scene, Thapa attacked him with a meat cleaver, severely injuring him. Police arrived and shot Thapa when he refused to drop the knife.

  • The attack occurred on February 25, 2026.
  • A vigil for the Basnet family was held on the Friday night following the incident.
  • As of March 9, 2026, the GoFundMe campaign had raised over $47,000 towards a $100,000 goal.

The players

Santosh Basnet

A Fairfax County man who survived the meat cleaver attack by his father-in-law and is recovering from his injuries.

Mamta Thapa

Basnet's wife, who was killed by her father Chhatra Thapa during the attack.

Binda Thapa

Basnet's mother-in-law, who was also killed by Chhatra Thapa during the attack.

Chhatra Thapa

Basnet's father-in-law, who killed his daughter Mamta and wife Binda with a meat cleaver before attacking Basnet.

Officer First Class Nicholas Brazones

The 2.5-year veteran police officer assigned to the Mason Police District who shot and killed Chhatra Thapa when he refused to drop the knife.

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What they’re saying

“I see my baby crying and running. I see some bloody stuff, and I see my wife near the door, the main door. I can see her head bleeding. She was saying, 'He killed. He killed all of us.'”

— Santosh Basnet (News4)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Officer First Class Nicholas Brazones to return to active duty following the investigation into the shooting.

The takeaway

This horrific incident underscores the need for greater mental health resources and support for immigrant families facing challenges after relocation, as well as improved domestic violence prevention and response protocols in the local community.