Shot by masked assailants, justice Bam dies during treatment at Norvic Hospital; two others injured

Supreme Court justice Rana Bahadur Bam, who was shot by motorcycle-borne assailants at Shankhamul, Kathmandu, Thursday morning, died while undergoing treatment at Norvic Hospital, Thapathali, in the afternoon. His friend Ramji Giri and bodyguard Assistant Sub-inspector Mahesh Giri were also shot at and are undergoing treatment in a critical condition.

Justice Bam received six bullets - in the neck, hand, chin and chest. He was rushed to Norvic Hospital at Thapathali along with bodyguard Giri while Ramji, who received three bullets, was first taken to Alka Hospital from where he was referred to Norvic. He is father of television actor Deepak Raj Giri.

Director of Norvic Hospital, Dr Bharat Rawal, who was also involved in treatment, confirmed Bam's death.

Masked assailants stopped his car (Ba-8-Cha 9853) and shot the three persons at point blank range at around 11:15 am. Family sources said the shooters must have followed him from nearly Bangalamukhi temple he visited in the morning. They said he used to go to the temple every Thursday.

Ramji managed to dial his son Deepak from his cellphone about the gun attack. "He called me saying he was shot along with Bam," Deepak told media persons at the hospital, adding, "He stayed overnight at Bam uncle's place yesterday. They are longtime friends."

Justice Bam had not attended the court for one-and-half following charges of corruption. The Judicial Council had recommended to the parliament to start procedures to impeach him, but the House did not take up the recommendation.

Police are yet to identify the assailants and their motive behind the attack. The driver of the car, who escaped unhurt, has been arrested for investigation.

Meanwhile, police have recovered a Pulsar motorcycle used by the assailants along with pamphlets released by a previously known group called 'Nepalbaad Party'. Police also said massive manhunt has been launched in Kathmandu Valley to track down the assailants.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi and Home Minister Bijaya Gachchhadar visited the hospital when Bam was undergoing treatment.

PM Bhattarai told reporters at the hospital premises that he ordered the security officials to take every possible step to track down those behind the attack. "This is an attack on the state. The government will mobilise its mechanism to find out the criminals," said he. nepalnews.com