KATHMANDU: An armed gang opened fire injuring a hotelier in the capital last midnight. Abhiman Singh Basnet (26), owner of Kingsway Restaurant at Durbarmarga, was injured when an armed gang opened fire at him in Maitidevi intersection last midnight. The motive behind the shooting was not ascertained as the gangsters remain at large.

Injured Basnet has returned home today following the treatment at Bir Hospital and Norvic Hospital, police said.

According to SP Nawa Raj Silwal, in-charge of the Metropolitan Police Range, Hanumandhoka, the gangsters included Sanjeev Lama alias Syal, Akash Lama, Bhogendra Lama, Ram Giri and Ashish Shrestha, came on a motorcycle (Ba 26 Pa 1890) and shot at him. The incident occurred at 12 midnight.

"The miscreants managed to fire two rounds of bullets at Basnet, before fleeing. One of the bullets pierced through his jacket and the other passed through his back skin, injuring Basnet, said police, investigating the case.

"It was Sajeev who first pulled the trigger," informed Silwal.

Police have impounded suspected five motorcycles along with that of gangster Sanjeev's (Ba 29 Pa 9486) and Ba 28 Pa 3428. The culprits are at large. Police have intensified the manhunt to bring the culprits to book.