Kathmandu, August 21

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam today told the Parliament that gangster Kumar Shrestha, aka Ghainte, 40, was killed after he opened fire at cops who were trying to detain him yesterday.

Addressing today’s meeting of the Parliament, Gautam said Ghainte died at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital at around 12:40pm after he was shot at in Kapurdhara, Samakhushi, at 11:20am.

Gautam said two of Ghainte’s associates, Raj Maharjan, 25, and Suresh Maharjan, 31, sustained bullet injuries in their legs and have been receiving treatment at the same hospital. He added that a few police personnel were also injured in the shootout and were receiving treatment at Bir Hospital.

Earlier, NC lawmaker Bhimsen Das Pradhan had accused the government of killing Ghainte in cold blood and has sought the help of National Human Rights Commission. He demanded a judicial probe into the case.

“What is the use of prisons and courts if the state kills people after taking them under control?” Pradhan questioned. Claiming that Ghainte was intentionally killed by the state, another NC lawmaker Kausar Sah asked the government to declare him a martyr.

Lawmaker Dilli Prasad Kafle asked the government to clarify the reason behind the ruling party lawmakers opposing the government for killing a gangster.

Supporters stage protest

KATHMANDU: Supporters of gangster Kumar Shrestha, aka Ghainte, who was killed in police firing, enforced bandh in Samakhushi area to protest the killing, on Friday.

Ghainte was killed and two of his associates were injured in a shootout at Samakhushi, when police opened fire on them in self-defence. Activists of ruling Nepali Congress also expressed solidarity with the protest. Normal life was partially affected due to the bandh.

Most of the shops were shut while only a few vehicles plied the roads. The demonstrators also staged a rally shouting slogans against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam and Nepal Police. They alleged that police had forfeited Ghainte’s right to live and killed him without arresting him or filing formal chargesheet against him in the court.

“Had Ghainte committed any crime, police should have arrested and produced him in the court,” one of his supporters said.