A Nepali Congress leader was murdered in Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jajarkot, on Tuesday evening. 

Rabindra Shumsher Shah was stoned to death by an unidentified group while he was out in a walk with his aide Hitler Singh Rathour at Jajarkot-Dolpa Road, police said. His body was thrown down a roadside cliff. 

Rathour, who claimed to have escaped the attackers, is being held for questioning. Police have also rounded eight other suspects in connection to the incident.

According to Rathour, Shah, who was also involved in construction business, had animosity with some local builders and had received death threats in the past.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Bhabesh Rimal said they were questioning the suspects to get to the truth.

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress supporters enforced shut down Khalanga on Wednesday to protest the incident. They staged a protest rally, demanding the authorities to capture Shah’s murderers. 

They have served a 24-hour ultimatum to the District Administration Office to close the case.

Khalanga locals, Civil Society members and representatives of various political parties have also condemned the incident.  

The body of Shah has been kept in the District Hospital for post-mortem.