Dhangadhi, November 30:

The far western region came to a standstill today as protesters continued to demonstrate, demanding the arrest of the murderer of journo JP Joshi, who had been missing since October 8.

Kailali, Kanchanpur, Dang, Banke and Bardiya were shut at the call of the CPN-Maoist. Though the bandh failed to affect other districts, all means of transportation leaving the far-western region were halted, hampering people in rural hilly areas.

The FNJ at Kailali organised a protest rally in Dhangadhi’s Park Chowk. Vice president of the FNJ Kailali chapter, Bhubaneswor Adhikari, chaired the corner meet.

FNJ central member and regional coordinator Manmohan Swanr said: “Joshi’s family should be provided with compensation.”

Meanwhile, the CPN-Maoist held a protest rally accompanied by Joshi’s wife and children. The rally started from the Maoist party office and ended into a corner meet at LN Chowk. The CA members representing the Maoists — Bir Man Chaudhary and Krishna Chaudhary of Kailali — addressed the corner meet. They demanded the local administration to track the murderer of journo Joshi, who was also a district member of the Maoist party.

The two individuals against who the FIR was registered were arrested, including businessman Lokendra Raut of Attariya, who had been absconding after Joshi’s remains were found.

“Lokendra Raut was arrested in Dhangadhi’s Chatakpur based on a tip-off,” said Uttam Bahadur Singh, Superintendent of Police. Lokendra’s brother Karan Raut was arrested the day when an FIR was registered against him.

A probe team led by DSP Bhola Rawal has been constituted.

A team of the FNJ arrived in Dhangadhi today. A member of the team, Manmohan Swanr, said they would begin the probe from tomorrow. Journo Joshi, who went missing a day before Dashain, was found dead in the Pragati women’s community forest, near his house, on Friday.