Two unidentified persons opened fire at a tile shop in Manigram, Rupandehi, on Friday.     Police said the motorcycle-borne assailants fired three shots at the shop owned by Durga Lal Bhandari but no one was hurt. 

Bhandari’s daughter-in-law and a shop assistant were inside the shop at the time of shooting. The bullets had hit the wall.

Bhandari’s family has claimed that the shooters were hired by one Manoj Pun of Devdaha, who is currently said to be in Malaysia. 

Bhandari’s son Dipak said that Pun had phoned him after the incident claiming responsibility for the shooting.

Pun, who had allegedly been extorting the Bhandari family, is learnt to have hired the gunmen after the family refused to pay him Rs 3 million.

Deputy Superin-tendent of Police  (DSP) Mukunda Marasini at the Butwal Area Police Office said they were investigating into the incident.

We have launched a manhunt after the shooters  and at the same time trying to locate Pun, who is allegedly overseas, the DSP added.