A man was killed and another one left critically injured after a group attacked them in West Nawalparasi on Monday night. 

According to DSP Mohan Bahadur Khand, one Ganesh Mallaha, 36, of Sunsari in Palhinandan Rural Municipality, died after he was attacked with an iron rod in his head.

His local relative Narbadeshwor Chauhan was injured in the attack. He has been undergoing treatment at Prithvi Chandar Hospital in Parasi.

Police said both the two sides engaged in the fight were vegetable vendor and they have been searching for those involved in the incident.

It is reported that Mallaha and Chauhan were returning home at around 10 pm on Monday after observing their paddy field at BadaharaDubauliya of Sarawal Rural Municipality-6. Their friends invited them to meet at Pratappur Rural Municipality-4. Then the group assaulted them from behind with the iron rod. The assailants threw the duo to the southern side of the bridge assuming that they died and fled the scene.

But Chauhan regain consciousness and returned home and told the police and locals about the entire incident.

Preliminary police investigation has revealed that the group assaulting Chauhan and Malla was potato dealer Sahapathi.  However, the reason behind the attack has yet to be established.