Police have arrested and made public an accomplice of notorious gangster Manoj Pun, the mastermind in the murder of businessman Basanta Paudel in Rupandehi.

Subash Gurung aka Bibek of Ram Bazaar, Pokhara Metropolitan City-10, Kaski district was arrested and made public at a press conference at District Police Office, Rupandehi on Wednesday. He was arrested from Lamjung on Tuesday, said Shyam Gyawali, Chief at District Police Office, Rupandehi.

Gurung had shot and killed furniture businessman Basanta Paudel while he was staying at his saw-mill in Dhekwar of Devdana Municipality on January 5. Gurung, who was on the run after the incident, was arrested following an intense manhunt, police said.

During police interrogation, Gurung confessed to his crime and said he did it for money. He said that he had taken Rs 100,000 in advance from Pun to commit the crime.

According to a preliminary investigation, Pun had informed about the plan to Gurung time and again through SMS. Pun had also taught Gurung to use the weapon through phone, police said.

Police had already arrested Padam Chaudhary and Mahinarayan Chaudhary who had assisted Gurung to execute the murder plan.

The mastermind of the crime, Pun and his aide Som Ale were killed in a police encounter in Devdaha Municipality of the Rupandehi district in the wee hours of February 21. Both of them were riding on a motorbike when the police opened fire on them in retaliation.

The duo was rushed to Lumbini Zonal Hospital, but the doctors pronounced them dead on arrival.

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