BIRATNAGAR: A group of three assaulted Bhakti Sitaula, convention representative, Nepali Congress Morang district, leaving him critically injured, yesterday night. According to police, the gang had attacked Sitaula at his residence at Sundarpur-2 in Morang.

Rajendra Sitaula, victim's younger brother said, ''They called him outside the house saying that they had come to play Holi with him but they thrashed him.'' The assailants had come in two motorcycles and a car. They fled the scene after the attack. Sitaula, who sustained life threatening injury on his head, is undergoing treatment in Neuro- Hospital Biratnagar. The locals have alleged that Jyoti Limbu and Santosh Rai of Sunarpur-5 and Bikash Limbu of Dulari-3 of Morang district were involved in the attack. The assailants fled in a car leaving the motorcycles after the locals chased them.

According to Area Police Office Belbari, the attackers had looted two golden chains. They also looted cash amounting to Rs 32,000 from Sitaula. The motorcycles used by the assailants have been impounded. Dipak Thapa, Superintendent of Police, Morang, said police are searching the culprits, adding, "A police team under a DSP has been deployed in the incident site for further investigation.''

Meanwhile, Amrit Aryal, district president, NC, condemned the incident and demanded that the culprits be brought to books at the earliest.