CHITWAN: Legal Officer at BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Gokarna Sapkota, was attacked by two persons in an attempt to burn him alive in Bharatpur of Chitwan district, today.

Sapkota was attacked by the unknown assailants at 8:50 am today near Machhapuchhre Chok when he was returning home in his scooter from Katahar Chok in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-7 after getting his hair cut.

Sapkota said, the assailants who had approached him on a motorcycle, stopped him, manhandled him, and splashed diesel on him. He further added that after the attackers manhandled him by holding his t-shirt, he was able to escape them by tearing the t-shirt and running away.

"Had I not escaped the assailants, there was no doubt they would have burnt me alive. I escaped when they were trying to spark the fire," Sapkota shared.

He shed light on the conversation that ensued between him and the assailants, "One of them asked me if I was Gokarna Bista, to which I answered in negative; the other said with certainty that I was him and then started manhandling me."

One of the attackers appeared to be in his early 20s, while the other in his mid-30s, informed Sapkota. There apparently were two other people on another motorcycle, whom Sapkota was not able to identify.

The locals started to gather on hearing the commotion after which the assailants ran away, said Sapkota.

Gokarna Sapkota is the District Chief of Campaign for Human Rights and Social Transformation Nepal (CAHURAST). He is also a general member of Nepal Bar Association, Chitwan chapter.

Pamphlets were recovered from the incident site that alleges the legal officer of being involved in amendment of hospital regulations and financial discrepancies, among others.

According to Superintendent of Police at Chitwan District Police Office, Dipak Thapa, the motorcycle that was used to commit the crime has been identified and search is on for the absconding assailants. He added that further investigation into the case is underway.