Bhairahawa, September 15

Two persons riding a motorbike shot a youth to death and looted him of Rs 0.5 million in broad daylight at Rohini Bridge of Rohini Rural Municipality, Rupandehi, today.

The deceased has been identified as Mahendra Kurmi, 40, of Omsatiya Rural Municipality, Rupandehi.

According to Rupandehi District Police Office, Kurmi was gunned down at Rohini Bridge along the Postal Marg while he was on the way to Dhakdhai from Bhairahawa. He died on the spot.

After withdrawing cash from Himalayan Bank, Bhairahawa branch, Kurmi was heading for home along with his wife Bijayalaxmi on the bike.

Referring to Bijayalaxmi, SP Hriday Thapa said a group of two people riding the bike had followed Kurmi, gunned him down and made off with the cash. Bijaylaxmi, however, has escaped unhurt. “Bijayalaxmi, who fell unconscious after the incident, was handed over to family members,” said SP Thapa.

Kurmi received a bullet on his armpit. His body is kept in the morgue of Bhairahawa-based Bhim Hospital. He is survived by three daughters and a son.

Kurmi’s father Krishnalal has filed an FIR with the police office demanding stringent action against the guilty, said SP Thapa.

He said the body would be handed over to family members after post-mortem.

In the wake of the incident, locals had prevented the police administration from removing the body from the incident site to press them to book the guilty. Federal Police Unit Office Bhairahawa said police had taken the body after they agreed to probe the incident and book the guilty pronto, said DSP Chandra Kumar Thapa. Kurmi’s younger brother, Dharmendra Prasad was thrashed to death two years ago.

Earlier, both brothers had gone to a Gulf country for employment. “After Dharmendra was murdered when he returned, Mahendra did not go abroad,” said a local Sanjay Kurmi.

The murder of Kurmi brothers has left the village in mourning. Their murder has left their father Krishnalal aggrieved.

“Both my sons were killed. Two years after the younger son was killed, the elder one was also murdered,” Krishnalal said weeping. He cast doubt that the guilty would be arrested.