An unidentified gang on Friday night shot dead a Nepali Congress (NC) local leader at Balabakhar-4 in Dhanusha district on Friday night. Another NC activist sustained critical bullet injuries in a separate attack in Ganeshman-Charnath-2 in the district on Saturday morning. 

The motive behind the incidents is not immediately known, said police. 

Rajendra Prasad Yadav, 50, of Balabakhar-4 was shot dead at around 9:30pm on Friday, said police. Rajendra, former NC village committee president, was the booth representative during the party’s recent local convention. According to Bisheshwor Yadav, former NC district secretary, the victim was shot dead while he was returning home after attending his niece’s wedding in Balabakhar-4. 

DSP Nakul Pokharel said that the assailants had fired three bullets from close range. Investigation is underway, he added. 

In the separate incident, two motorcycle-borne assailants shot at Rain, 35, a resident of Ganeshman-Charnath Municipality-6, while he was with his friends in Birendra Bazaar. Rain has been airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment. According to eyewitnesses, the assailants were riding a motorbike with “on test” registration plate and fled the scene after the crime. 

A manhunt has been launched to nab the criminals, said SP Rambhakta Joshi. NC leaders, who are in district for the party’s local conventions, said those who were against the NC’s conventions had attacked the party members. (PR)