GAIGHAT: Police today detained six persons in connection with the murder of Udaypur district committee member of the Matrika-led CPN-Maoist Karna Bahadur Thapa.

According to Manoj Kumar Yadav, District Superintendent of Police, Udaypur, the detainees are Mohan Ghimire, Sitaram Thapa, Prem Bahadur Karki, Sabin Thapa, Dal Bahadur Thapa and Sashi Sedai of Rampurthokshila-2.

They were arrested after Thapa's son Sanjaya lodged a complaint. According to the District Police Office, investigation is under way.

Meanwhile, the CPN-Maoist has called an indefinite Rampur Bazaar bandh from Saturday to protest the murder of Thapa. Marketplaces remained shut while vehicles stayed off the roads today as well.

An unidentified group had beaten up Thapa to death on Friday night.

Thapa was also the chairman of the local Machhapuchhre Community Forest Users

Committee.

The motive behind the murder is yet to be ascertained. Police have not disclosed the identity of the murderer.