Youth and student wing affiliated to CPN-UML have enforced an indefinite general strike in Rupandehi district on Saturday to protest the murder of trader Basanta Paudel aka ‘Balu’.

As as result normal life in the district has been adversely affected.

All Nepal National Free Student Union (ANNFSU) and Youth Association have called the strike demanding action against the guilty of murder. According to police, two unknown assailants had fired multiple shots at Paudel in Dhekabar of Devdaha Municipality in the district on Friday.

Vehicular movement along the East-West Mahendra Highway and North-South Siddhartha Highway has come to a grinding halt due to the bandh.

Banda enforcers have barred the vehicles from plying on the inner roads of the district as well. All shops, medicals and market places have pulled down their shutters. Major cities of Rupandehi such as Butwal, Devdaha, Khaireni wear a deserted look due to bandh.

UML-aligned youth association’s Rupandehi Chairman Nakul Shahi warned that they would continue the strike until the culprits of the murder were booked under law. The Youth Association is infuriated as its district Chairman Durga Tiwari was murdered last year and yet again their another leader Paudel has been killed. 

Meanwhile, Bhairahawa police has formed a seven-member probe team under DSP Dharma Raj Bhandari to investigate into the murder. It is learnt the in-depth investigation into the murder will begin from today.

Locals and media persons claimed that Manoj Pun, a gang leader believed to be operating from outside the country, has owned up the killing. Pun is also the main accused in Tiwari’s murder. It is believed that Pun is operating his gang from Malaysia.