Protests erupted in Panchadewal Binayak Municipality in Achham district on Wednesday following the death of ward no. 2 Chairman Padam Bahadur Dhami on Tuesday morning.

Locals and representatives from various political parties held demonstrations demanding an immediate investigation into the case. The demonstrators have obstructed the Mid-Hill Highway as a result of which transportation in the region has been disrupted.

The protests have thus far remained peaceful. However, authorities have tightened security measures in the wake of tensions surrounding Dhami’s death.

The bruised and bloodied body of Dhami, who had attended various programmes on Monday and was last seen leaving a local school with his colleagues at around 10 pm, was found dead in his sister-in-law’s cattle shed at about 4 am on Tuesday.

According to Ambika Chalaune, deputy mayor of Panchadewal Municipality, Dhami was accompanied by a police constable who had dropped him off at his house a little after 10 pm on Monday.

“By the looks of it, the incident does not look like a suicide, as Dhami had sustained serious head injuries and his body was covered in blood at the time of discovery,” said Chalaune. “Dhami’s body was found by his sister-in-law, who had gone to the shed to milk buffalos in the early hours of Tuesday.”

A special team from the District Police Office and a team of investigating officers from the central level have begun an investigation into the death of the ward chairman.

Dhami had resigned as a teacher to enter politics and was elected ward chairman under the Nepali Congress ticket.

The municipality office, following the incident, had issued a statement demanding a prompt investigation into the case and action against the perpetrator/s.

Dhami’s family has refused to take the body of the deceased until further investigation into the matter is conducted.