NPFN candidate killed in Banke, Maoists suspend their poll programme in the district

An unidentified group has killed Kamal Prasad Adhikari, constituent assembly candidate of the National People's Front Nepal from Banke.

Adhikari was the candidate at constituency No 2 of the district. He was shot with several bullets at around 11 pm, Tuesday.

Severely injured, Adhikari was taken to nearby Bheri Zonal Hospital by police ambulance. Doctors declared him dead 6 am Wednesday.

Doctors say Adhikari has been shot at various parts of the body.

The armed group, after the incident, escaped across the border into India firing blank shots.

Adhikari was the vice president of the party's district committee. He is survived by a wife, a daughter and four sons.

Police said at least two suspects have been arrested.

Meanwhile, the Maoists have announced suspension of their polls campaign in Banke district owing to new circumstance created after the murder of a poll candidate on Wednesday.

Party chairman Prachanda was scheduled to address a mass gathering in the district on Wednesday. He had arrived in Nepalgunj Wednesday after completing his polls campaign in Dang district.

The party said their programme has been suspended after the unidentified armed group killed the candidate of National People's Front Nepal from constituency No 2 Kamal Prasad Adhikari.

The party has urged the cadres to gather for paying tribute to the slain communist leader.

Similarly, Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has also halted its programme for Wednesday. The FNJ had formed a committee to be deployed in the city to oversee if the parties are abiding by the code of conduct. nepalnews.com ia Mar 19 08