Kathmandu, October 10

The Federation of Contractors Association of Nepal (FCAN) has urged Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to take prompt action against those involved in the murder of Sharad Kumar Gauchan — the FCAN president who was shot dead in the Capital on Monday.

Meeting the prime minister here today, a delegation from FCAN urged him to identify and penalise the guilty in Gauchan’s murder case and assure security to contractors across the country.

“Contractors in the country are time and again receiving threats from different groups and individuals and Monday’s incident is proof of how insecure it is to do business in Nepal. We urge the government to ensure safety to carry out the construction business in the country,” said Ram Sharan Deuja, general secretary of FCAN.

The FCAN also demanded the government to declare Gauchan a martyr.

FCAN has already announced all construction works would be halted across the country until all the perpetrators in the murder of Gauchan are caught and action is taken against them. Similarly, FCAN has also announced it will not participate in the bidding process of any government project for an indefinite period.

Addressing the FCAN delegation, PM Deuba said that the government will hold talks with different security agencies in regard to assuring safety to contractors and all businesses in the country. Deuba also urged contractors and businessmen not to be demoralised following Gauchan’s murder and vowed to intensify investigation into the murder case of FCAN president.

Meanwhile, different organisations representing the country’s private sector, like Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) have already condemned the murder of Gauchan.

Issuing a press statement today, Nepal Petroleum Dealers’ National Association (NPDNA), Federation of Nepal National Transportation Association (FNNTA) and Federation of Nepalese Cottage and Small Industries (FNCSI) also stated that Gauchan’s murder in broad daylight on Monday has posed a security threat to do business in the country. These organisations have also appealed the government to ensure security for doing business in the country.