The CPN-UML on Tuesday has shutdown Bajura district headquarters Martadi to protest the death of one of its cadres Hansa Bahadur Rawat who died in a clash with Nepal Congress (NC) cadres during a political rally at Chhededaha Rural Municipality last Sunday.

The party has accused NC cadres of stoning Rawat to death. The tragedy happened on the day of the filing of candidacy nominations for the second phase of the local level elections.

Earlier on Tuesday, the UML delegation reached the District Administration Office, Bajura, seeking action against the guilty.

The party has submitted a memorandum to Chief District Officer Devendra Lamichhane demanding that the guilty be brought to book.

Main market areas in the district including the district headquarters have remained closed since this morning due to the banda. The agitation would continue until a process to punish the guilty was initiated, said UML Bajura publicity department chief Amar Khadka.

However, the NC Bajura has denied the accusation and claimed that Rawat, who was suffering from asthma, collapsed before breathing his last.

The police administration has arrested NC candidate for Chhededaha Rural Municipality chief, Nar Bahadur Rawat, leaders Padam Bahadur Rawat and Dev Bahadur Rawat on the charge of their involvement in the killing.

The party has demanded for a fair probe into the incident and sought actions against those found guilty, said NC district President Kabiraj Pundit.

Following the strike, the police administration has beefed up security there to avert any untoward incidents, according to CDO Lamichhane. RSS