The family of slain Durga Tiwari, Rupandehi district chairman of Youth Association Nepal (YAN), received his body on Wednesday after the local administration assured them to recommend the government to declare him a martyr.

His body was cremated at Devghat in Chitwan district in the evening. The funeral was preceded by a procession in Butwal, Rupandehi, that was attended by hundreds of CPN-UML activists and locals. The procession convereged at Pushpalal Park where a condolence assembly was held.   

UML central leaders Bishnu Paudel and Ghanshyam Bhusal were also present on the occasion. They paid their tribute to Tiwari by draping a party’s flag over his body. A condolence meet was also organised at Chauraha where Tiwari’s widow, Renu, demanded the authorities to investigate her husband’s murder and bring the perpetrators to justice. She also urged the UML leadership to recognise her husband’s contribution to the party.

Two motorcycle-borne assailants had fatally shot Tiwari at Devdaha-8 on Monday. He died at Devdaha Medical College during treatment. Police have arrested four suspects in Tiwari’s murder case as of Wednesday.

Meanwhile, YAN has lifted the banda enforced in Rupandehi for the last three days in protest of Tiwari’s murder.