The Sarlahi in-charge of Netra Bikrma Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) died in police action in Lalbandi on Thursday.

Superintendent of Police Gopal Chandra Bhattarai said the security personnel opened fire in retaliation after a group of four motorcycle-borne persons fired at a police patrol in a forest near Lakhandehi in Lalbandi-1.

The deceased has been identified as 47-year-old Kumar Paudel, a resident of Bagmati Municipality-2. He died on the spot while three others managed to escape from the incident site, said police.

Police recovered a revolver and four round bullets from the site. Similarly, a country-made pistol, two rounds of bullets and 200 blank identity cards issued in the name of Nepal Landless Squatters Association were found in a bag belonging to Paudel, police said.

SP Bhattarai said a number of cases of organised crimes, including blasts and arson at police posts, had been filed against Paudel. He had also been charged with extorting businesspersons, Bhattarai said.

The CPN, however, claimed that police detained Paudel and murdered him in the forest. Talking to the Post over the phone, a CPN leader said that the incident was premeditated.