Congress local leader murdered in Pokhara

POKHARA, AUG 15 - Ramji Poudel, a Nepali Congress leader from Lekhnath of Kaski district, was found murdered in Pokhara on Friday.

He was reportedly beaten to death by the party activists belonging to the rival faction supporting Sher Bahadur Deuba. Poudel belonged to the NC faction led by Prime Minister and party President Sushil Koirala. Local NC activist Manoj Gurung was also injured in the attack. He has been admitted to Manipal Teaching Hospital. A private car parked near the incident site was burned by the NC cadres belonging to the Deuba camp. They also obstructed the traffic along the Prithivi Highway for nearly 10 hours.
Meanwhile, police detained Raju Ranabhat, the Kaski chapter chairman of NC, for investigation. Police said besides Ranabhat, they have identified four other suspects in Poudel’s murder.
Rivalry between the two NC factions has escalated as the party is planning to hold its national convention.