The general strike enforced by CPN-UML affiliated Youth Association Nepal (YAN) and All Nepal National Free Students´ Union (ANNIFSU) in Rupandehi following the death of YAN's leader and entrepreneur Basanta Poudel has been called off on Sunday.

ANNIFSU’s Rupandehi Chapter Chairman Bal Krishna Pandey informed that the strike has been lifted up from 5pm today following an agreement between the victim’s side, all-party mechanism and police administration.

As per the deal, deceased Poudel will be declared martyr, perpetrators will be arrested immediately and administration will strengthen the security in the area, Pandey informed.

Poudel, 40, was shot dead at his furniture factory Dhekabar of Devdaha Municipality in Rupandehi district on Friday by two unknown assailants who fired multiple shots at him at around 11am. The motorcycle-borne duo fired two shots—in his chest and head. He was pronounced dead at the Butwal-based Lumbini Zonal Hospital.

YAN and ANNIFSU had called an indefinite shutdown from Saturday demanding a thorough investigation into the murder and see if the crime was politically motivated. Political parties, business associations and civil society have also expressed their solidarity in the protest while locals in Devdaha joined the protest demanding security.

Protesters blame police administration for the death of Poudel, which came around a year after the murder of another UML leader Durga Tiwari in the district. Tiwari’s killer, Manoj Pun, had called the local people and had claimed the murder of Poudel.