POKHARA, August 14

An intra-party rift simmering between two factions of the Nepal Congress was exposed when Ramji Paudel, a local Nepali Congress leader, was murdered allegedly by a party activist from the rival faction at Lekhnath Municipality in Kaski yesterday night.

Paudel was the former chairman of Nepali Congress-aligned Nepal Student Union in Kaski, as well as a former central leader. Police on Friday arrested Raju Ranabhat of the Nepal Tarun Dal, who is also the coordinator of Lekhnath Municipality Ward No 16, for his alleged involvement in the murder.

NC-aligned Indigenous Ethnic Community Lekhnath Municipality Coordinator Prakash Gurung, Tarun Dal Lekhnath-12’s Acting Coordinator Biswas Gautam and Rabin KC have also been accused of the murder and have been absconding, according to Kaski police chief SP Hari Bahadur Pal.

Enraged locals obstructed vehicular movement at Gagangaunda road section along Prithvi Highway from 8:00am to 5:00pm to protest the killing.

The body was sent to Western Regional Hospital on Friday evening.

NC mahasamiti member Buddhiman Gurung had called a meeting yesterday evening to settle a dispute that had ensued at Talchowk in Lekhnath two days ago. The dispute occurred after Biswas Gautam attacked Narayanhari Tiwari during a discussion about the party’s election at Talchowk on August 12.

Ramji Paudel had intervened in the dispute, an eyewitness said.

To resolve the same dispute, 12 local leaders and cadres of NC had gathered at Buddhiman’s house last evening. Buddhiman said the situation worsened after verbal sparring turned into a scuffle and blows were exchanged. Manoj Gurung, an eyewitness, said Prakash Gurung assaulted Ramji.

Locals said Biswas and Prakash threatened to kill Ramji while exiting Buddhiman’s house. Around 9:00pm, Manoj and Ramji left Buddhiman’s house on a motorcycle and Naraynhari left on his bike.

Manoj said there were up to seven people brandishing sticks and rods waiting for them on the way. The gang assaulted Narayanhari first and he collapsed. “When I tried to stop them, they attacked me. I don’t remember when I regained my consciousness,” he said.

He said the gang beat Ramji black and blue and added that he did not recognise other assailants except Prakash and Biswas.

Upon hearing about the attack, Buddhiman reached the incident site to find Naryanhari and Manoj lying unconscious. He sent them to a hospital and went to search for Ramji. “We found his body on Friday morning,” Buddhiman said.

Rajendramani Lamichhane and Narayanhari Tiwari were prospective nominees for the President of Lekhnath Municipality. Rajendra is loyal to the party establishment while Narayanhari is close to Sher Bahadur Deuba faction.

Locals suspect that Ramji was attacked by Biswas as the latter was rooting for Narayanhari. The car used by Biswas was found near the place where Ramji’s body was recovered. Irate locals set the car on fire early this morning.