A trader was shot dead at Dhekabar of Devdaha Municipality in Rupandehi district on Friday.

According to police, two unknown assailants had fired multiple shots at Basant Paudel aka ‘Balu’, at around 11am.

The motorcycle-borne duo had hit Paudel, a 40-year-old furniture trader, in his chest and head. He was pronounced dead at the Butwal-based Lumbini Zonal Hospital.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Pawan Bhattarai of the Butwal Area Police Office said they are yet to ascertain the identity of the assailants and the motive behind the murder.

DSP Dilli Narayan Pandey of the District Police Office said there were 15 workers at the furniture factory when the incident occurred. “The assailants had reached there on the pretext of ordering furniture,” said DSP Pandey. They fled the scene after the incident.

Meanwhile, locals urged the security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the murder of Poudel, who is also a Yuba Sangh leader, and see if the crime was politically motivated.

People took to the streets in Butwal to protest the killing. Youths, businesspersons, civil society leaders and general public have demanded a thorough probe, arrest of the perpetrators and strong security measures. An obstruction of the East-West highway halted traffic for an hour.

Basanta is the son of CPN-UML leader Nilkhantha Paudel. He has two children. A year ago, Durga Tiwari, the Rupandehi chairman of the UML-aligned youth association, was shot dead in Dhekabar.

Locals and media persons claimed that Manoj Pun, a gang leader believed to be operating from outside the country, has owned up the killing. Pun is also the main accused in Tiwari’s murder. It is believed that Pun is operating his gang from Malaysia.

Surendra Prasad Shrestha, central member of the Butwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said they have been receiving phone calls from Pun’s gang demanding “donation”. Shrestha said they had complained to the local administration about the terror frequently, to no avail.