Kathmandu, Jan 26: Nepal`s armed police force chief Krishna Mohan Shrestha, his wife and a bodyguard were shot dead by suspected Maoists in the suburbs of the city this morning, officials said. Shrestha, his wife Nudup and bodyguard were shot dead near their residence at Sanepa Bagdor area while taking a morning walk at around 7.30 am, an official at the Prime Minister`s Office said.

Two suspected Maoists wearing masks shot them at point-blank range and fled the scene, police said.

Shrestha had been appointed the inspector general of armed police force about a couple of years ago when it was constituted to fight Maoist insurgency. The force has over 15,000 police personnel.

This is the first time that the rebels targeted such a top security official. However, no one has yet claimed responsibility for the incident.

Security personnel have surrounded the area and an intensive hunt was launched to nab the culprits.

Bureau Report