Two unknown assailants shot and killed a businessman at Dhekar of Devdaha Municipality in Rupandehi district on Friday.

According to police, two unidentified persons came on a Bajaj Discover motorcycle and opened shots at furniture businessman Basant Poudel aka ‘Ballu’, at around 11 am this morning.

Poudel, 40, had sustained bullet injuries in his chest and head and was rushed to Butwal-based Lumbini Zonal Hospital where the doctors pronounced him dead.

Butwal Area Police Office DSP Pawan Bhattarai informed that they are probing the incident and are yet to ascertain the identity of the assailants and motive behind the murder.

Meanwhile, the locals have urged the security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation of businessman Poudel, who is also a local leader of CPN-UML, and determine if the murder was politically motivated.

Likewise, people have taken to streets in Butwal to protest the murder of businessman Poudel.

Youths, businesspersons, civil society leaders and general people protested the killing demanding thorough investigation into the case, arrest of the perpetrators and strong security measures from the authorities following the incident.

The protesters have obstructed the East-West highway as a result vehicles plying along the road have been halted.