CPN-UML Youth Association president shot dead at market

Rupandehi district President of CPN-UML aligned Youth Association Durga Tiwari has been killed by a bullet fired by an unidentified group. Tiwari was shot at at around 3:30 p.m. at Khaireni market-place in Rupandehi, Devdaha Municipality-6. He passed away while undergoing treatment at the nearby Devdaha Medical College. Eye-witnesses informed that two people on a red Pulsar motorcycle had fired the bullets. DSP Bel Bahadur Pandey said search is underway for the perpetrators whose identities are yet to be revealed. Elsewhere, Youth Association has accused Manoj Pun of Khaireni for the crime. Pun had threatened Tiwari of life a number of times, and had even attempted attack on him a few months ago, according to Vice-President of Youth Association, Lumbini Kulendra Pun. Manoj Pun is also accused of making life threats via phone calls to other people even after the attack. Cadres of Youth Association have refused to claim the body and are protesting outside the hospital demanding immediate arrest of Manoj Pun. Tiwari had been active in the protest against division of state 5. Following the incident, Youth Association has carried out demonstrations and called shutdowns in districts including Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, and Kapilvastu, among others.