Kathmandu: A top government official escaped narrowly while his police guard was shot dead in an attack by unidentified gunmen in central Nepal, close to the Indian border, police said.
The attackers opened fire at the Assistant Chief District Officer Bam Bahadur Malla in front of his house at Ranighat in the commercial hub of Birganj at 10:00 am today, the police said.
A police officer guarding him, Anand Raj Khadka was killed on the spot receiving five bullets, while Malla who was injured was rushed to the hospital, Police spokesman Bigyan Raj Sharma said.
The attackers fled after the attack. Later Terai Janatantrik Moracha(TJM) claimed responsibility for the attack. TJM is an armed group of Terai and had recently called off talks with the government.
The police is investigating the matter.
The Terai region is witnessing an upsurge in violence and
the government has introduced special security plan for the
region.
PTI
First Published: Monday, January 11, 2010, 17:35