BAGLUNG: The family and relatives of a suspected youth reportedly missing in the Kaligandaki River  have shut Baglung district headquarters on Thursday.

During a security check on Tuesday, Sunil Pun and his friends Dipendra Karki of Baglung and the driver Bhimsen Lama of Makawanpur were nabbed on  charges of smuggling  illegal drugs to Kushma from Baglung .

However, Pun managed to break free and  tried to cross the river swimming in a bid to avoid police arrest. After locals reported that Pun had not resurfaced,  police have launched a search and rescue operation from Tuesday itself without avail.

As a result of the protest, transportation has come to a halt while the market remained shut. The victim's family has demanded that a fair investigation into the case be launched at the earliest and Pun's status found. The protesters said the protest would continue until their demands are met.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar Khadka said a search continued for Pun and the investigations were on.